Full name         : Shaun Maclean Pollock

 Born                 : 16 July 1973, Port Elizabeth, Cape Province

 Current age     : 33 years  

 Major teams    : South Africa, Africa XI, ICC World XI, KwaZulu-Natal, Warwickshire

 Batting style    : Right-hand bat

 Bowling style   : Right-arm fast-medium





Shaun Pollock has been the most successful South African bowler since Allan Donald. He also holds the South African record for highest number of wickets in both Tests and ODIs and he is fast approaching the magical figure of 400 Test wickets. Having made his debut in 1995 against England, he has played over 100 Tests. He has taken 395 wickets at an average of 23.42. His run in ODIs has also been equally good with 348 wickets at 24.29 to his name. He is also a very effective batsman and has played many a good innings to bail the team out of difficult situations. However, despite such an impressive career, Shaun Pollock has not got the recognition that Allan Donald or Australian Glen McGrath has got. Pollock was named captain of South Africa, but after the team's disappointing run in the 2003 World Cup, he was removed from the post.

He is mainly considered a medium fast bowler but at times he can deliver a faster ball. His main weapons are his unwavering accuracy, reliability and his ability to make the ball swing both ways. He is also in command of a bouncer which rushes on to the batsman. He is also a very useful hard-hitting batsman who boasts more than acceptable Test and ODI averages of 32.58 and 24.67 respectively. His fielding, both on the outfield and occasionally in the slip region, makes him all the more potent. When he was captain, no one in international cricket had more on his slate.





After a disappointing Test series tour of Australia in 2005/2006, there have been worries that Pollock, who has been South Africa's most prized bowler since the loss of Donald, is losing his sting in his bowling; however, at only 33, he still has a good few years left as a Test cricketer and is first South African and only the tenth player to take 400 Test wickets. However, of late Shaun Pollock seems to have lost his touch and his bowling standards have deteriorated. Injury is a reason behind this, and it can surely be hoped that with so much of talent and some more years of cricket left ahead of him, Shaun Pollock will bounce back to his original form soon.

Shaun Pollock received the SA Player's Player award and the SA ODI Player Award. He is one of only 6 players to have scored 3000 runs and taken 300 wickets in Test matches.