Hansie Cronje was a South African international cricketer who served as the captain of the national team from 1994 to 2000. Under his leadership, the team recorded 23 wins in 53 test matches. In 2004, two years after his death, he was named the 11th greatest South African despite having been banned from cricket for his involvement in a match-fixing scandal. A Bloemfontein-native, Cronje grew up alongside two siblings. He became an all-round sportsman in school where he was captain of his cricket and rugby teams. His sporting skills led him to represent the then Orange Free State Province in rugby and cricket. After earning his Bachelor of Commerce degree, Cronje started his first-class career, making his debut for Orange Free State in 1988 at Johannesburg against Transvaal. In 1992, he made his international debut in a One Day International World Cup match against Australia. In 2000, the talented cricketer’s career came to a halt when he was banned from playing for life for his role in a match-fixing scandal. In 2002, he died in a plane crash at the young age of 32.
