Cricket South Africa has had its share of problems since it started playing cricket. It was banned from playing all kinds of cricket during its Apartheid era. After South Africa's Apartheid policies were over, there were reinstated by the cricket community to play on the international stage. But since then, there have been a lot of problems regarding the decisions taken by Cricket South Africa for the future of its cricket. One of them is the black reservation policies implemented in 2015-16. There have been mixed reactions from former cricketers and cricket experts about this quota reservation policy. South Africa, which has been the victim of inherently racist policies against blacks, is intricate regarding the future of sport in their country. We looked at the top 10 South African Cricketers who have been victims of their black reservation policies.
1. Jacques Rudolph
The Left hander, who had good footwork, was once hailed as one of the greatest prospects for CSA. But he too was the victim of their racist policies back in 2001-02 when, during South Africa's tour of Australia where Justin Ontong, a colored cricketer, was chosen before him just to satisfy their black reservation policies. South Africa went on to lose the series, and since then, Rudolf’s career has been a topsy-turvy one. He went on to play for Glamorgan on a Kolpak deal and had a difficult time getting back to the South African team.
2. Kyle Abbott
The tall pacer had been a victim of this policy in the 2015 world cup, where Vernon Philander was chosen over him in the knockout match. However, Abbott was South Africa's most economical bowler in the campaign. He last played for South Africa in 2017 before he struck a kolpak contract with Hampshire to showcase his skills in county cricket.
3. Duanne Oliver
The prospect of South African fast bowling Oliver had a great start to his career, picking up 48 wickets in 10 test matches. Since then, he has been in and out of the side due to this policy. He finally joined Yorkshire on a Kolpak deal, leaving hardcore cricket South African fans fuming about his decision.
4. Johan Botha
Johan Botha was the number 1 all-rounder for CSA for several years before Imran Tahir and Keshav Maharaj emerged as spinners. After that, he found it difficult to return to the team and hence gave away his South African citizenship to take up Australian citizenship, and now he plays for t20 leagues around the world.
5. Morne Morkel
Morne Morkel had a successful career with South Africa, he was one of their mainstays in the bowling line-up, but towards the end of his career, with the emergence of bowlers like Kagiso Rabada and all-rounders like Dwaine Pretorius and Phehlukwayo, it was difficult for him to maintain his place due to the policy. He then played for Surrey and now has taken up Australian citizenship to play for foreign leagues.
6. David Wiese
He is a well-known name in the T20 leagues all around the world. He was once the number 1 all-rounder for South Africa in limited cricket, but after cricket, South Africa favored Andile Phehlukwayo over him. He gave up playing for Proteas and started to play for Namibia instead.
7. Merchant De Lange
The tall, muscular pacer was known to bowl fast when he emerged as a youngster. But because at that time, South Africa had their pace line-up already set with the likes of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, and Vernon Philander, and due to the black reservation policies of proteas he was never given a long run in the cricket, South Africa team. He instead played for Somerset and other county clubs.
8. Simon Harmer
The off-spinner was one of the front runners to become the lead spinner after playing for that national team back in 2014- 15, But the emergence of Keshav Maharaj hindered his chances of playing for the national team. He played for Essex for nearly eight years before returning to the national team in the recent series against New Zealand.
9. Farhaan Behardien
Once regarded as the number 1 finisher for CSA after the retirement of Jacques Kallis, he even proved his performances in the 2015 world cup and the 2016 T20 world cup, but soon he was made out of the team with the selectors putting their faith in Andile Phehlukwayo, who was a black South African cricketer.
10. Kevin Pietersen
Yes, the great Kevin Pietersen was also a victim of the reservation policies of cricket South Africa. In his book Crossing the Boundary, Kevin Pietersen stated that he was left out of the KwaZulu Natal team due to the unofficial racial quota policy. And that was the primary reason he left South Africa to seek a career in England.
