South African cricket legend, Graeme Pollock, is currently in the hospital after suffering a stroke. The news of his hospitalization was reported on Sunday. Pollock, who recently celebrated his 80th birthday in February, had the stroke 11 days ago and has been receiving medical care ever since.
Unfortunately, this is not the first health challenge Pollock has faced in recent years. He has also been diagnosed with cancer and Parkinson’s disease. Spook Hanley, a former teammate from Transvaal, spoke to the Rapport newspaper about Pollock’s condition.
Hanley mentioned that although Pollock is stable and can move his arms, he is unlikely to be discharged from the hospital shortly.
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Graeme Pollock is regarded as one of the greatest left-hand batsmen the game has ever seen. Sir Don Bradman recognised his talent and skill, and described Pollock during his playing days as “perhaps the finest left-hand batsman the game has ever produced.”
Pollock represented South Africa in 23 test matches before the country’s isolation from international cricket due to the apartheid regime. During his international career, Pollock scored seven centuries and 11 fifties, showcasing his exceptional batting abilities.
His test batting average of 60.97 is the fourth-best in history, with only two players ahead of him on the list, both of whom played fewer matches than Pollock.
Pollock’s final test series took place in February and March 1970 against a touring Australia. In the first test of the series, held in Durban, Pollock made history by scoring an impressive 274 runs.
This knock remained the highest individual score in South African test cricket for 29 years until Gary Kirsten surpassed it with his innings of 275 in 1999, also in Durban. Even after South Africa’s ban from international sport, Pollock continued to make significant contributions to cricket by playing first-class matches.
He made his first-class debut at the age of 16 in 1960 and retired from the game in 1987 at the age of 43.
Throughout his long first-class career, Pollock amassed an impressive total of 20,940 runs, with an average of 54.67. He also recorded 64 centuries and 99 fifties, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in the world of cricket.
As Graeme Pollock battles his health challenges, the cricketing community and fans around the world send their well wishes and hope for his recovery. His contributions to the sport will always be remembered, and his name will forever be etched in the annals of cricketing history.
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