SA's First Cricketing Giant

All-rounder Jimmy Sinclair played in 25 Tests from 1890 to 1911. He scored South Africas first three Test centuries and was the first player from any country to score a century and take five wickets in an innings in the same Test. He was also a rugby Springbok! By Graham Jooste.

- Graham Jooste

Born in October 1876 in Swellendam, James (Jimmy) Hugh Sinclair was a prodigious striker of the ball, an excellent fielder and, on occasion, a fearsome quick bowler. In short, he was the ideal all-rounder.

When his family moved to the Reef, Sinclair completed his schooling at Marist Brothers in Johannesburg and joined Wanderers Cricket at the age of just 15. His enthusiasm and skill impressed the selectors, and he was chosen to play for Transvaal in the 1892-93 Currie Cup a few weeks after turning 16.

He opened the batting, and his attacking style had purists shaking their heads and muttering about recklessness. Opening batsmen, after all, are expected to be patient, play elegant strokes and take the shine off the ball, leaving the middle order to score most of the runs.

Sinclair, however, scored a quick 37 in the first innings and 11 in the second, and took eight wickets against Western Province. In due course, his highly competitive nature would stand South Africa in good stead when it came to international cricket.

THE JAMESON RAID

The 1890s saw political uncertainty swirling in South Africa. The Uitlanders in the Transvaal had for some time been expressing their grievances, but these met with little sympathy from President Paul Kruger, who eyed them as a threat to the stability of his republic. Worse, the British government was casting covetous eyes on the Reef’s gold mines.

During this period, Martin Hawke (known as Lord Hawke, although he had inherited a barony), twice led an England cricket squad on a tour to South Africa. Hawke was a stylish right-handed batsman who was said to have a ‘missionary-like zeal’ to develop cricket abroad. In all, he undertook nine tours as a player, leading teams to Australia, India (twice), North America (twice), South Africa (twice), the West Indies and Argentina.