5 late debutants that left a mark on cricket

#2 Basil D'Oliveira

Basil D'Oliveira batting against Australia

Basil D'Oliveira is a legend one just cannot forget. His phenomenal talent for cricket was neglected in South Africa which was his birthplace. Due to the apartheid laws of the country, he was not allowed to play first-class cricket. It was later with the help of commentator John Arlott and journalist John Kay Dolly he moved to England, in 1960.

Though his international debut was at the age of 34, it didn’t stop him from being one of the best from his time. D’Oliveira went on to score 2,484 runs and took 47 wickets with his right-arm medium-pace bowling for the England team. As he showed off his skills the only one regret that the cricket lovers must have had, is only if the talent got its recognition at the age of 19 rather than 35.

The Chief executive of South Africa Gerald Majola had earlier said, “He was a man of true dignity and a wonderful role model as somebody who overcame the most extreme prejudices and circumstances to take his rightful place on the world stage.”