This weekend has been bitter-sweet for me and I’m sure for other loyal South African cricket fans.

Friday started off with such promise as we went into day two with a commanding lead over the West Indies in the series-deciding final Test at Kingsmead. And by the end of the day, captain Graeme Smith had reached his first hundred on home soil in three years.

This was probably reason that I changed channels without thinking after the last ball had been bowled. In hindsight this was not the day to be so blasé about my team’s performance, missing out on the press conference.

'I'll never forget Pollock’s tearful face in the Kingsmead dressing room the night we went out against Sri Lanka'


Sitting down for supper, watching the news with my father and sister, I received the worst news of my cricket-watching life as my idol Shaun Pollock announced his retirement from international cricket. I felt the tears stream down my face every time the camera focused on him during Day Three. I was actually shouting for the West Indies just to get one more day of my favourite star.

Pollock has been the iconic figure that has gone hand in hand with my enjoyment of cricket.

I can still remember the first time I noticed that fiery red hair on the field, I must have been about eight at the time. And for a long time he was the only person on the field I could recognise. Not really knowing what was happening, I found out more about the man and the game and 12 years later I feel like I owe him a thank you. I would not have enjoyed or maybe not even have liked cricket if it wasn’t for him.

I’ve taken the good and the bad in Pollock’s career; his first Test, four wickets in four balls, is not easily forgotten along with the joy I felt when he was made captain in 2000 after the unsavoury circumstances surrounding Hansie Cronje. And Pollock still has the best captain’s record for a South African.

Then came the 2003 Cricket World Cup held in South Africa. As hosts, we put a lot of pressure on the players, which didn’t help. I’ll never forget Pollock’s tearful face in the Kingsmead dressing room the night we went out against Sri Lanka.

Pollock was fired as captain but in true character, he rallied behind new skipper Smith. And he never looked back. He was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2003 and is South Africa's leading Test wicket-taker with 421 scalps. He has also been a number one bowler and all-rounder on the ICC ODI and Test rankings.

Pollock played cricket in the right spirit, never saying anything nasty about the opposition. Even when he received awards he would always thank his team-mates. That says a great deal about the man.

I’m sure in time someone will fill the void left by Polly. In the meantime, I wish him the best for the future and I hope Jemma and Georgia enjoy the new-found time with their father.