1928 - 2011

First non-White South African to play English County Cricket, Celebrated Batsman, Bowler and All-rounder, Symbol of the Anti-Apartheid struggle in sport

Basil D'Oliveira, affectionately known as Dolly, was a South African cricketer who fundamentally influenced the course of international cricket and turned worldwide opinion against Apartheid through sport.

Despite exceptional cricketing talents, DOliveira, labelled Coloured under Apartheid, was confined to play blacks-only league in South Africa until he was picked to play for England in 1966. Arriving at Heathrow airport he got lost when he could not find the non-White exit sign.

In 1968 he sparked the 'D'Oliveira Affair' when he was not selected to play for England on a tour of South Africa. Following a widespread media outcry, he was eventually added to the team but the South African government refused DOliveira entry. England then cancelled the tour altogether, giving rise to one of crickets greatest political dramas. It marked the breaking off of English cricketing relations with South Africa and in due course led to the complete sporting isolation of South Africa.

DOliveira represented his adopted country until he was 40 and represented Worcestershire in country cricket until 49. In 2000 he was named one of the ten South African cricketers of the century, despite never having played for South Africa.

Did You Know?

Queen Elizabeth made DOliveira an officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1969 and promoted him to commander in 2005.

Can this work underneath the above text? If not, leave it out. Great anecdote, but perhaps awkward to display. Then we will just put the actual cover on the website.

Queen Elizabeth: I say, aren't you the chap who's been blackballed?

Basil DOliveira curtsying: From birth, ma'am.

Conversation bubbles over a photograph of Queen Elizabeth and Basil DOliveira on the front page of the September 1968 issue of British Magazine Private Eye