Ranked: Five greatest Proteas players of all time

Proteas have consistently produced world-class bowlers and batsmen but who are the greatest SA cricketers of all time?

Former Proteas fast bowler Shaun Pollock. Image: @ICC/X

The Proteas have produced some of the greatest cricket players the sport has ever seen over the past 30-plus years. Although South Africa has never won a senior ICC Cricket World Cup, it has consistently produced world-class bowlers and batsmen.

Here, we look at the top five greatest Proteas players of all time:

Jacques Kallis
Kallis is arguably the most complete cricketer to have ever existed. With 25,000 international runs, the former Proteas captain demonstrated incredible grit on the field, and his wicket was highly prized. In addition to his batting prowess, Kallis was a specialist fast bowler who took nearly 600 international wickets, making him one of the greatest all-rounders the sport has ever seen.

AB De Villiers
Known as “Mr. 360,” AB De Villiers is considered one of the greatest Proteas cricketers in the shorter formats of the game. At his peak, from 2011 to 2018, he was the most destructive batsman to watch. AB could hit any ball, anywhere, against any bowler, and he broke several records during his playing career.

Pollock and Kallis rank as Proteas greatest all-rounders

Shaun Pollock
Nearly 20 years after retiring from international cricket, Shaun Pollock remains one of the most celebrated Proteas players. At 51, the former all-rounder exemplifies the term “line and length.” Pollock was the first South African to reach 400 Test wickets and held the record for the most Test wickets for the Proteas until it was surpassed by Dale Steyn.

Gary Kirsten
Gary Kirsten is regarded as one of the greatest openers the Proteas have ever seen. He gained a reputation as a solid batsman in both Test and One Day cricket. While he could accelerate the tempo of an innings when needed, he was more often known for patiently waiting for bad deliveries in Test cricket.

Dale Steyn
Known for his intimidating presence, characterized by intense eyes, throbbing veins, and a signature chainsaw celebration, Steyn was South Africa’s most feared fast bowler at his peak. Nicknamed “The Phalaborwa Express,” he was renowned for his exceptional speed and ability to swing the ball both ways, often leaving batsmen in disarray. Steyn is undoubtedly the greatest fast bowler the Proteas have ever had.