OTD | Former South African all-rounder Hansie Cronje was born in 1969

After admitting to his role in the match-fixing scandal that damaged cricket’s reputation, Hansie Cronje, a well-liked character in the sport, turned into a symbol of treachery and disgrace. Cronje was more than simply a player for the South African cricket team; as captain, he represented the sport. He played as captain and an all-rounder, leading South Africa to victory in a record 53 Test matches and 138 ODIs. On this day in 1969, history was born: the renowned batter. 

While Cronje’s cricket career started in the 1992 World Cup, his performance against India was the one that really brought his abilities to light. With his bowling, he confounded Indian batters and finished with a remarkable 135 runs. He kept getting better, and in 1993 he helped South Africa win their first Test match away from home after apartheid. 

When the former South Africa hitter was named Orange Free State’s captain, it was clear that he had leadership abilities. Despite his limited presence due to overseas engagements, his inspirational leadership remained unwavering. During the 1994–1995 Australian tour, he assumed the role of vice-captain and went on to become the team’s permanent captain. The standout hitter for South Africa was renowned for maintaining his calm under pressure and for never displaying rage. 

Unfortunately, Cronje’s demise occurred in 2000 during an Indian series when his avarice got him entangled in the world of match-fixing. In 1996 Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin introduced him to a bookie called Sanjeev Chawla. In an attempt to sway athletes such as Pieter Styrdom, Cronje even made financial inducements to close associates like Lance Klusener, Jacques Kallis, and Mark Boucher to perform poorly. 

The socio-economic circumstances in South Africa made it simpler for Cronje to make agreements in the ODI series, despite the fact that some people thought it was a joke. Hansie Cronje represented South Africa in 58 Test matches and scored 3714 runs while his highest was 135 runs. While in ODI he played 188 matches and scored 5565 runs and his highest in ODI was 112 runs.

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