shivfan
Banned
Of course, as we all know, before 1990, the South African cricket authorities practised a system of apartheid, which also meant that they fielded all-white teams. However, since 1990, a quota system was used to fast-track a lot of non-white players into the national and domestic sides. It was a much-crticised system, and the authorities were defensive about it at the time. However, the quota system seems to have worked, because players like Makhaya Ntini, Ashwell Prince, Hashim Amla and JP Duminy are regulars in the side now.
And of course, over the past couple of decades, SOuth African cricket was well-served by players like Paul Adams and Hershelle Gibbs, who are called 'coloureds' in South Africa, while in other countries around the world they would be called 'mixed-race'. Nobody can seriously question the places of Ntini, Prince, Amla and Duminy in the Test team, on the basis of their records, while Alviro Petersen clearly deserves his place in the ODI side, and Loots Bosman is an explosive batsman in the 20/20 team.
But aside from Ntini, not many black players have made it in cricket at the highest level in South Africa, and aside from Amla, the same is true of players of East Indian origin. Yes, Lanlewo Tsotsobe and Imraan Khan are on the fringes, but the main progress seems to have been made by the 'coloureds', especially the Cape Coloureds, who seem to have embraced the game of cricket much more readily than the black majority.
However, sometimes it's a little difficult to know if a player is a 'coloured' or not, just by looking at him. I met Gibbs a decade ago, and I wouldn't know he was 'coloured' if I hadn't been told. So, similarly, are there any other players currently on the verge of selection who are 'coloured', but are so light-skinned that it might not be obvious to the rest of us?
Yes, some may say, what's the point of this? But not so long ago, in South Africa, the shade of your skin could determine your future, so talking about the diversity within the Saffer team is an indication of how much progress has been made....
Does anyone have a list of all the 'coloured' players to have played for South Africa since 1990?
And of course, over the past couple of decades, SOuth African cricket was well-served by players like Paul Adams and Hershelle Gibbs, who are called 'coloureds' in South Africa, while in other countries around the world they would be called 'mixed-race'. Nobody can seriously question the places of Ntini, Prince, Amla and Duminy in the Test team, on the basis of their records, while Alviro Petersen clearly deserves his place in the ODI side, and Loots Bosman is an explosive batsman in the 20/20 team.
But aside from Ntini, not many black players have made it in cricket at the highest level in South Africa, and aside from Amla, the same is true of players of East Indian origin. Yes, Lanlewo Tsotsobe and Imraan Khan are on the fringes, but the main progress seems to have been made by the 'coloureds', especially the Cape Coloureds, who seem to have embraced the game of cricket much more readily than the black majority.
However, sometimes it's a little difficult to know if a player is a 'coloured' or not, just by looking at him. I met Gibbs a decade ago, and I wouldn't know he was 'coloured' if I hadn't been told. So, similarly, are there any other players currently on the verge of selection who are 'coloured', but are so light-skinned that it might not be obvious to the rest of us?
Yes, some may say, what's the point of this? But not so long ago, in South Africa, the shade of your skin could determine your future, so talking about the diversity within the Saffer team is an indication of how much progress has been made....
Does anyone have a list of all the 'coloured' players to have played for South Africa since 1990?
