Publications
Partners
Cape Town - According to the Sports Illustrated website, Cape Cobras fast-medium bowler Rory Kleinveldt made his Test debut against Australia this past weekend at the Gabba in Brisbane, but sadly for the 29-year-old, his final figures read a somewhat disappointing: 21-1-97-0 with 12 no-balls and a wide.
Coupled with the fact the Proteas' decision to go into the Test with five seamers and no recognised spinner was roundly criticised, it’s fairly reasonable to assume that Kleinveldt in all likelihood won’t get a start in the next two Tests Down Under (in Adelaide starting on November 22 and Perth on November 30).
VIDEO: Australia v South Africa, first Test highlights
Could Kleinveldt’s Test career be limited to just one Test?
If so, he'd join six other South African post-isolation (1992 onwards) players to have represented the Proteas on just one occasion...
Tertius Bosch
April 18-23, 1992
The Northern Transvaal quick made his Test debut along with nine of his SA compatriots in the first post-isolation Test against the West Indies in Bridgetown in 1992. Despite getting the big scalp of Brian Lara in the first innings, Bosch only managed three wickets in the Test. With the emergence of left-arm quick Brett Schultz and fellow Northern Transvaal bowler Fanie de Villiers, Bosch was not selected for the Proteas Test team again. He died in mysterious circumstances early in 2000 at the age of 33.
Adrian Kuiper
April, 18-23, 1992
Kuiper was probably lucky to play for the South African Test team on one occasion - the historic first Test back against the West Indies. With his big-hitting all-round game more suited to the shorter format, the former Western Province player was also past his best when South Africa were readmitted to Test cricket. He played in 25 ODIs for SA, with a highest score of 63 not out against India in New Delhi in 1991.
Mark Rushmere
April 18-23, 1992
A prolific run-scorer domestically with Eastern Province, Rushmere was only 27-years-old when South Africa were readmitted to international cricket and many predicted a long international career for him. Sadly it was not to be. He made his debut in the 1992 West Indies Test in Bridgetown and disappointed with the bat, scoring three runs in each of his innings. With that, veteran Jimmy Cook was given a chance in the next Test series, Rushmere’s domestic form waned, and he was not selected again.
Imraan Khan
March 19-23, 2009
With Graeme Smith injured, Khan was given a chance to show his worth in the dead rubber third Test against Australia at Newlands. The former SA Under-19 captain had propelled himself into the team by sheer weight of runs in the 2008/09 SuperSport Series. Unfortunately, his score of 20 in the first innings paled in comparison to his opening partner Ashwell Prince’s 150. When the Proteas played their next Test (in December later that year), Prince got the nod to open the batting with Smith - and Khan was out of the Proteas mix.
Albie Morkel
March 19-23, 2009
With Morné Morkel summarily dropped after the second Test v Australia in Durban (he took just two wickets in the Proteas 175-run drubbing by the visitors), the selectors bizarrely selected his brother Albie to replace him. Known as a predominantly limited-overs player (Albie had already made his ODI debut back in 2004), the older Morkel scored 58 runs and took one wicket in his Test debut - which wasn't enough to remain in the team.
Ryan McLaren
January 14-17, 2010
With Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis ruling the all-rounder roost in the Proteas team, McLaren chose to go the Kolpak route in the mid-2000s. That meant that by the time he earned a Test call-up in 2010 (against England in the fourth Test at the Wanderers), his best days were probably behind him. And even though he’s only 29 now, other bowlers like Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Wayne Parnell, Marchant de Lange and now Rory Kleinveldt have since moved ahead of him in the pecking order.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Which of the seven Proteas players mentioned above was in your opinion the unluckiest to have only played a single Test for South Africa? Send your thoughts to Sport24.
Coupled with the fact the Proteas' decision to go into the Test with five seamers and no recognised spinner was roundly criticised, it’s fairly reasonable to assume that Kleinveldt in all likelihood won’t get a start in the next two Tests Down Under (in Adelaide starting on November 22 and Perth on November 30).
VIDEO: Australia v South Africa, first Test highlights
Could Kleinveldt’s Test career be limited to just one Test?
If so, he'd join six other South African post-isolation (1992 onwards) players to have represented the Proteas on just one occasion...
Tertius Bosch
April 18-23, 1992
The Northern Transvaal quick made his Test debut along with nine of his SA compatriots in the first post-isolation Test against the West Indies in Bridgetown in 1992. Despite getting the big scalp of Brian Lara in the first innings, Bosch only managed three wickets in the Test. With the emergence of left-arm quick Brett Schultz and fellow Northern Transvaal bowler Fanie de Villiers, Bosch was not selected for the Proteas Test team again. He died in mysterious circumstances early in 2000 at the age of 33.
Adrian Kuiper
April, 18-23, 1992
Kuiper was probably lucky to play for the South African Test team on one occasion - the historic first Test back against the West Indies. With his big-hitting all-round game more suited to the shorter format, the former Western Province player was also past his best when South Africa were readmitted to Test cricket. He played in 25 ODIs for SA, with a highest score of 63 not out against India in New Delhi in 1991.
Mark Rushmere
April 18-23, 1992
A prolific run-scorer domestically with Eastern Province, Rushmere was only 27-years-old when South Africa were readmitted to international cricket and many predicted a long international career for him. Sadly it was not to be. He made his debut in the 1992 West Indies Test in Bridgetown and disappointed with the bat, scoring three runs in each of his innings. With that, veteran Jimmy Cook was given a chance in the next Test series, Rushmere’s domestic form waned, and he was not selected again.
Imraan Khan
March 19-23, 2009
With Graeme Smith injured, Khan was given a chance to show his worth in the dead rubber third Test against Australia at Newlands. The former SA Under-19 captain had propelled himself into the team by sheer weight of runs in the 2008/09 SuperSport Series. Unfortunately, his score of 20 in the first innings paled in comparison to his opening partner Ashwell Prince’s 150. When the Proteas played their next Test (in December later that year), Prince got the nod to open the batting with Smith - and Khan was out of the Proteas mix.
Albie Morkel
March 19-23, 2009
With Morné Morkel summarily dropped after the second Test v Australia in Durban (he took just two wickets in the Proteas 175-run drubbing by the visitors), the selectors bizarrely selected his brother Albie to replace him. Known as a predominantly limited-overs player (Albie had already made his ODI debut back in 2004), the older Morkel scored 58 runs and took one wicket in his Test debut - which wasn't enough to remain in the team.
Ryan McLaren
January 14-17, 2010
With Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis ruling the all-rounder roost in the Proteas team, McLaren chose to go the Kolpak route in the mid-2000s. That meant that by the time he earned a Test call-up in 2010 (against England in the fourth Test at the Wanderers), his best days were probably behind him. And even though he’s only 29 now, other bowlers like Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Wayne Parnell, Marchant de Lange and now Rory Kleinveldt have since moved ahead of him in the pecking order.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Which of the seven Proteas players mentioned above was in your opinion the unluckiest to have only played a single Test for South Africa? Send your thoughts to Sport24.
