The Proteas have used more players in the past four years than any other international team, including India.
This was revealed by veteran cricket journalist Neil Manthorp in his latest Manners on Cricket column.
“You may be staggered to know how many players have worn the Proteas badge in the last four years,” Manthorp wrote. “Have a guess. 30? 50?You may feel squeamish.”
An understrength Proteas T20I squad featuring five new caps is currently playing a five-match series against the Black Caps in New Zealand.
“Those with the fortitude for more T20 cricket in the last 10 days following the month-long World Cup might have encountered players in New Zealand they’d never spotted before, or even heard of. Many find that unsettling and unsatisfactory,” Manthorp wrote.
“There are a couple of mitigating circumstances, like when coach Shukri Conrad was forced to select a largely uncapped squad for a Test series in New Zealand two years ago [due to a clash with the SA20]. And the current T20 series, also in New Zealand – more uncapped players.
“The days when international sport was ‘special’, made so by its scarcity, are long gone, but they will return,” he added. “Inconsequential bilateral series will soon be a distant memory as the drive towards financial cricket, sorry, franchise cricket continues apace.”
At the end of his column, Manthorp revealed the number of players to have represented the Proteas over the past four years: “73! SEVENTY THREE!!”
Full column and list of 73 Proteas players
Photo: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images