Full Name

Aron Bacher

Born

May 24, 1942, Johannesburg, Transvaal

Age

81y 300d

Batting Style

Right hand Bat

Bowling Style

Legbreak

Fielding Position

Occasional Wicketkeeper

RELATIONS

(uncle),

(nephew),

(nephew),

(nephew)

Wisden Overview
He was a handy Test batsman, and his captaincy record is to die for - but Dr Ali Bacher will be remembered as the cricket administrator with the Teflon touch. The swarthy but softly-spoken Bacher organised the so-called rebel tours during the 1980s, when South Africa's apartheid policies made it a sporting no-go area. But Bacher saw the post-Mandela writing on the wall, put away the cheque-book, and reinvented himself as South Africa's cricket supremo when the previously separate black and white associations combined to set up the United Cricket Board. Bacher's reward came when his country marched back onto the international scene at the 1992 World Cup. He remained at the helm for the best part of a decade, before stepping aside to mastermind the organisation of the 2003 World Cup. Shortly before that, he managed to deflect most of the flak over Hansie Cronje - whom he originally defended stoutly - and the match-fixing affair. As a player Bacher was a scrapper, at his best turning to leg off the back foot, and he was a fabulous fielder. He took over the national captaincy in 1969-70, when he was lucky enough to inherit what was probably South Africa's greatest side, including Barry Richards, Mike Procter, Eddie Barlow and a pair of Pollocks. Bacher skippered in only four Tests - SA's last for 22 years - won the toss each time, and completed four thrashings of a very handy Australian side.
Steven Lynch (June 2004)

Ali Bacher Career Stats

Batting & Fielding

FormatMatInnsNORunsHSAve100s50s6sCtSt
Tests122216797332.33060100
FC12021210789423539.071845-1101
List A141402845620.2801-150

Bowling

FormatMatInnsBallsRunsWktsBBIBBMAveEconSR4w5w10w
Tests12------------
FC120-1148721/8-43.504.5757.0-00
List A14-172711/271/2727.009.5217.0000
Aron Bacher

Explore Statsguru Analysis

Test

Debut/Last Matches of Ali Bacher

FC Matches

Span
1959/60 - 1973/74

List A Matches

Span
1969/70 - 1973/74

Photos of Ali Bacher

A view of the Ali Bacher exhibition at the South African Jewish Museum
A view of the Ali Bacher exhibition at the South African Jewish Museum
Ali Bacher
Ali Bacher, the tournament's chief organiser, welcomes everyone at the opening ceremony
Ali Bacher addresses the media in Johannesburg
Ali Bacher