6 biggest South African cricketers whose international careers were halted due to racial apartheid regime

#3 Ken McEwan

Ken McEwan was a prolific run scorer for Essex in the English County League

A middle order batsman, McEwan’s career coincided with the period where South Africa was banished from playing international cricket due to the brutal apartheid policy. McEwan made his debut for the Eastern Province at the age of 20 and was recommended to Sussex by the future English captain Tony Greig. Due to its quota of overseas players McEwan went on to the staff at Essex.

McEwan went on to become a prolific run scorer for Essex and was instrumental in winning them the County Championship in 1979,1983 and 1984, the Sunday League in 1981, 1984 and 1985, the Benson and Hedges Cup in 1979 and the Natwest Trophy in 1985.

Though he was unable to play Test cricket, McEwan returned to South Africa on most winters to play for Eastern Province. He had two stints in Australia with Western Australia from 1979. Following the 1985 season, McEwan retired from Essex but continued to play five more seasons for Eastern Province. The club went on to win two Currie Cups title during that time. McEwan finished his career following the 1991-92 season.

In all forms of cricket, McEwan finished with 26,628 runs at an average of more than 41 per innings. His tally of 74 centuries is only the 2nd only to John Langridge’s 76 among players who never represented their country in Test cricket.