This article describes the history of South African cricket from the end of the Second World War in 1945 to the start of South Africa's cricket isolation in 1970.
International feeling against South Africa's apartheid policy became stronger and more vociferous as the post-war era developed. Until the mid-1960s, however, the South Africa national cricket team continued to play regularly and without undue difficulty against Australia, England and New Zealand.
But matters came to a head in 1968 when the South African government refused to allow a tour by England whose team included Basil D'Oliveira. Although the Australians visited South Africa in 1969-70, the end was nigh for apartheid in sport and South Africa was banned from Test cricket for 22 years. This happened just at a time when the South African team was arguably the strongest in world cricket.
In 1970, after South Africa's tour of England was cancelled, a Rest of the World team toured instead. It was captained by Gary Sobers and included other non-white players from the West Indies, India and Pakistan. It also included four of the greatest South African players (Eddie Barlow, Graeme Pollock, Mike Procter and Barry Richards) who clearly had no problems about sharing a dressing room with other cricketers whose skin was a different colour to their own.
1945-46 not contested1946-47 Natal1947-48 Natal1948-49 not contested1949-50 not contested1950-51 Transvaal1951-52 Natal1952-53 Western Province1953-54 not contested1954-55 Natal1955-56 Western Province1956-57 not contested1957-58 not contested1958-59 Transvaal1959-60 Natal1960-61 Natal1961-62 not contested1962-63 Natal1963-64 Natal1964-65 not contested1965-66 Natal and Transvaal (shared)1966-67 Natal1967-68 Natal1968-69 Transvaal1969-70 Transvaal and Western Province (shared)England 1948-49
1st Test at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead, Durban – England won by 2 wickets2nd Test at Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg – match drawn3rd Test at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town – match drawn4th Test at Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg – match drawn5th Test at Sahara Oval St George's, Port Elizabeth – England won by 3 wickets1st Test at Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg – Australia won by an innings and 85 runs2nd Test at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town – Australia won by 8 wickets3rd Test at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead, Durban – Australia won by 5 wickets4th Test at Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg – match drawn5th Test at Sahara Oval St George's, Port Elizabeth – Australia won by an innings and 259 runsNew Zealand 1953-54
1st Test at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead, Durban – South Africa won by an innings and 58 runs2nd Test at Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg – South Africa won by 132 runs3rd Test at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town – match drawn4th Test at Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg – South Africa won by 9 wickets5th Test at Sahara Oval St George's, Port Elizabeth – South Africa won by 5 wicketsEngland 1956-57
1st Test at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg – England won by 131 runs2nd Test at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town – England won by 312 runs3rd Test at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead, Durban – match drawn4th Test at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg – South Africa won by 17 runs5th Test at Sahara Oval St George's, Port Elizabeth – South Africa won by 58 runs1st Test at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg – match drawn2nd Test at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town – Australia won by an innings and 141 runs3rd Test at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead, Durban – match drawn4th Test at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg – Australia won by 10 wickets5th Test at Sahara Oval St George's, Port Elizabeth – Australia won by 8 wicketsA Commonwealth XI cricket team toured South Africa in October 1959, playing three first-class matches. Captained by Denis Compton, the Commonwealth XI included several famous or well-known players such as Tom Graveney, Brian Close, Bert Sutcliffe, Frank Tyson, Godfrey Evans, Roy Marshall, Bob Simpson and Ian Craig
New Zealand 1961-62
1st Test at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead, Durban – South Africa won by 30 runs2nd Test at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg – match drawn3rd Test at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town – New Zealand won by 72 runs4th Test at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg – South Africa won by an innings and 51 runs5th Test at Sahara Oval St George's, Port Elizabeth – New Zealand won by 40 runsEngland 1964-65
1st Test at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead, Durban – England won by an innings and 104 runs2nd Test at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg – match drawn3rd Test at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town – match drawn4th Test at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg – match drawn5th Test at Sahara Oval St George's, Port Elizabeth – match drawn1st Test at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg – South Africa won by 233 runs2nd Test at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town – Australia won by 6 wickets3rd Test at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead, Durban – South Africa won by 8 wickets4th Test at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg – match drawn5th Test at Sahara Oval St George's, Port Elizabeth – South Africa won by 7 wickets1st Test at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town – South Africa won by 170 runs2nd Test at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead, Durban – South Africa won by an innings and 129 runs3rd Test at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg – South Africa won by 307 runs4th Test at Sahara Oval St George's, Port Elizabeth – South Africa won by 323 runs 