Graeme Pollock is renowned as one of the greatest cricketers to ever play for South Africa, but the 80-year-old has previously battled colon cancer and Parkinson’s Disease.
In the latest heath setback, it’s reported by multiple publications that he recently had to be hospitalised after suffering a stroke. He is reportedly stable, but expected to remain in hospital for quite some time.
Spook Hanley, Pollock’s former Transvaal teammate, visited him on Friday.
“He moves his arms and understands everything you say,” Hanley told Rapport newspaper. “Although he is stable, I can’t see him getting out [of the hospital] in the near future.”
Graeme Pollock: A South African cricket legend
Despite playing only 23 Tests, he averaged a remarkable near-61 with the bat, having become highly regarded around the world for his elegant stroke play.
He was also named South Africa’s Cricketer of the 20th Century during an event in Cape Town several years ago.
Pollock’s Test average of 60.97 was second only to that of Australian Don Bradman, was a natural choice for the honour. The other nominees included Test cricketers Allan Donald and Barry Richards and the late Mike Procter, Aubrey Faulkner, Hugh Tayfield and Dudley Nourse.
Cricket family
Pollock is one of those cricketers who got good backing from his parents, as his father Andrew Pollock and Uncle Robert Howden too were cricketers at First-Class level.
Before him, his cousin Peter Pollock had already made it to the South African international side and later the legacy continued with two sons Andrew and Anthony, and then his nephew, Shaun Pollock, who went on to play 108 Tests..
*This is a developing story… more to follow
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