Greatest SA born player to play for another country?

[Howe_zat]

Conway couldn't get a gig in franchise cricket. The one news story Cricinfo have of him in his early years is playing a single T20 match for the Dolphins as a 20 year old, and then nothing on him at all until 2019. Keo (while referring to him, rather peevishly, as 'South Africa's Devon Conway') claims he only played 12 first class matches for the Lions in six years, with a batting average of 21.

 

[Flem274*]

Pretty sure he came to NZ and started from the very bottom too. Player/coach of Vic uni? Wellington took one look at him and said "yeah nah, you're not pissing about in club cricket mate."

His first half season for Wellington was relatively stock too, with a ton and little else. It was the next year that the freight train got rolling.

I believe nzfan once posted he worked on adding more shots to his game in that early period.

 

[Brook's side]

Flower couldn't dominate like KP could.

 

[Coronis]

Flower couldn't dominate like KP could.

Dominated in and against India for sure.

 

[Ali TT]

A few notable names missing in the list including Trott, Robin Smith and Jason Roy. Ironically, the most significant exclusion is a certain Basil d'Oliveira.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Obviously this thread misses all the South Africans (other than the man, RtD) who've plied their trade for Namibia or the Netherlands. Jan Frylinck, anyone?

 

[StephenZA]

Slight derailment for which I apologise in advance, but given the schisse show SA batting is currently it seems incredible an obvious talent like Conway is turning out for NZ.

Looks like Bedingham will ultimately end taking the King's shilling too.

They've lost talent before (Pietersen the obvious example) but when he made the move there were blokes like Kirsten, Gibbs, Kallis, Gibbs and fat Gray blocking his route.

Couple of things. Conway was known about since a young age and given opportunity at lower levels here in SA. For whatever reason he struggled to make runs so was never able to get a franchise gig. It’s great that he made the change and came good in NZ. Conway has spoken about this himself.

Bedingham was asked to stay and was playing plenty of franchise cricket decided to go the English route.

And SA has plenty of batting talent the problem has been terrible selection for the last 3-5 years. And to be clear not quota selection policy just terrible selections.

 

[ataraxia]

For whatever reason he struggled to make runs so was never able to get a franchise gig.

FTR he averaged something like 47 at provincial level, it was just that he was mainly completely useless at franchise iirc

 

[WpGuy]

Whereas she's got nothing to brag about.

Lol shes one of many many , what Iv achieved is maybe 5% of guys in world so enjoy didling yourself

 

[the big bambino]

Maybe you should write a book. Working title Incel Fantasies.

 

[Burgey]

Answer is whichever South Australian has played best for the Netherlands

 

[zaremba]

1. Strauss
2. Wessels
3. Labuschagne
4. Penisen
5. Flower
6. Lamb
7. R Smith
8. Grieg (grov.)
9. Prior (w)
10. Wagner
11. Wagner

It all started so well

 

[Fuller Pilch]

1. Strauss
2. Wessels
3. Labuschagne
4. Penisen
5. Flower
6. Lamb
7. R Smith
8. Grieg (grov.)
9. Prior (w)
10. Wagner
11. Wagner

It all started so well

Assuming they've had to have played tests:

Wessels (c)
Conway
Trott
Labuschagne
KP
Flower
Greig
Watling (wk)
D'Oliveira
Wagner
Brandes

Bat deep. Marnus and KP to bowl quite a bit.

 

[Prince EWS]

Assuming they've had to have played tests:

Wessels (c)
Conway
Trott
Labuschagne
KP
Flower
Greig
Watling (wk)
D'Oliveira
Wagner
Brandes

Bat deep. Marnus and KP to bowl quite a bit.

Neser and Tom Curran are eligible, if not players with stellar Test careers.

Wessels (c)
Conway
Labuschagne
KP
Flower
Greig
Watling (wk)
Neser
Curran
Wagner
Brandes

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Neser and Tom Curran are eligible, if not players with stellar Test careers.

Wessels (c)
Conway
Labuschagne
KP
Flower
Greig
Watling (wk)
Neser
Curran
Wagner
Brandes

D'Oliveria for Curran to bowl spin and bat 6. A 7-9 of Greig, Watling, Neser is very strong.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Assuming they've had to have played tests:

Wessels (c)
Conway
Trott
Labuschagne
KP
Flower
D'Oliveria
Greig
Watling (wk)
Wagner
Brandes

Bat deep. Marnus and KP to bowl quite a bit.

 

[Prince EWS]

D'Oliveria for Curran to bowl spin and bat 6. A 7-9 of Greig, Watling, Neser is very strong.

Didn't he bowl meds?

Probably more useful than Curran either way though, yeah. Greig's ability to bowl both helps.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Didn't he bowl meds?

Probably more useful than Curran either way though, yeah. Greig's ability to bowl both helps.

Sorry, I was wrong. My brain told me he bowled offies, but wikip and cricinfo just corrected me.

 

[zaremba]

Didn't he bowl meds?

Yep, he once stood in for Tom Cartwright.

 

[BazBall21]

Wow KP level with Flower