Because of the political situation in South Africa, Lee Irvine played only four Tests - but what a quartet it was. He played in South Africa's 4-0 demolition of Australia in 1969-70, their last series for 22 years. Irvine, the son of a Natal baseballer, was a punishing left-hander - he hit 26 sixes in his first season with Essex, in 1968 - who was just coming into his prime when he and South Africa were cut off: he made 102 in his last Test innings on his 26th birthday.
Rob Smyth