THE HISTORY OFCRICKET IN

HENRI STEENKAMP

SOUTH AFRICA

#PROTEAFIRE

In South Africa, two sports

dominate the culture:

RUGBY and CRICKET

Cricket came to South

Africa under hostile

times in the early 1800s

when the British

occupied the country.

In 1876 the first domestic

tournament was held on

Port Elizabeth’s grounds.

In 1888, Sir Donald Currie

brought the first foreign

visiting team, England, to

South Africa’s soil.

He also brought the

Currie Cup - the

domestic series, now

called the Sunfoil Series,

which continues to serve

as the nation’s premier

cricket competition.

HIGHS AND LOWS OFTHE 1900S

The early part of the

1900s saw the game grow

domestically and

internationally but

virtually came to a

standstill during World

War II till it ended in 1945

Apartheid policies were

enacted in 1948 and for

fifteen years, the

international community

voiced their disdain, but

little other action was

taken till 1968.

Basil D’Oliveira, barred

from the playing the

game in South Africa for

being a “coloured” man,

moved to England and

joined their team.

In 1968, he

attempted to play

for England on

South African soil,

but was barred

once again.

This act of hatred

sparked South Africa’s

international ban for

over 20 years–officially

beginning in 1970.

THE MODERN ERA

February 11, 1990

saw Nelson Mandela’s

release from prison,

and the end of South

Africa’s dark

apartheid era.

With the policies finally

removed, the sporting

world soon welcomed the

Proteas (switching from

the Springboks moniker)

back into its fold.

2003 brought the World

Cup to the Rainbow

Nation’s shores. and in

2007, the Proteas’ drive

paid off as they earned the

sport’s top rank.

Although the nation still

waits for a World Cup

title, we take pride in the

sport representing the

progress of this now

prospering nation.

W W W . H E N R I S T E E N K A M P . O R G

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