The saddest ending to his career hansie cronje

Well someone must have mentioned him.

Hansie Cronje

Cronje made his debut on 26 Feb 1992 at the age of 22. In his first few games, he performed tremendously well and soon was a part of the core South African team. He scored at an average of 61.40 which earned him a place in the 1992 world cup squad. Indian fans from the 90’s would remember the famous six he hit when South Africa needed 6 runs from 4 balls during the 1992/93 India tour of South africa.

He also was developing as a good medium pacer during that time. He achieved his best bowling figures (5/32) in the same tour against India.

He earned his test cap during their first tour after the apartheid had ended. He managed to become a decent test player and was regarded as the person to take South African cricket forward.

Hansie was made a full time captain in 1995. South African team started doing well under him after the initial stutters. After the apartheid, South Africa needed to come back well in international cricket. Hansie was regarded as the key man for doing that.

Under his captaincy, South Africa won atleast one series against every team except Australia.

His career took a disastrous turn when South Africa toured India at the turn of the century. In 2000, there were reports of Hansie Cronje having conversations with bookies in India. Three South African player along with Cronje were taken to trial over the match fixing issue. Cronje first denied all claims against him. But after some days, guilt catches up with him and Cronje admits to have ' taken money to throw away matches'.

His fate was sealed after Herschelle Gibbs admitted to have accepted an offer from Cronje to score less than 20 runs in exchange of $1500. Hansie said, “ I've no addiction to drugs or narcotics. It's only my greed to earn money.” He was banned for life. This was the darkest phase of South African cricket. The future stars to come looked up to Cronje as their idol. It still is the most shocking and sad revelation in cricket.

Hansie Cronje died in a plane crash in 2002. His career turned on it's head in a small period of 3 years. A country so passionate about sports looked up to him as a hero. There must be countless south African boys and girls who he inspired, but left the people equally shattered with his actions.

Considering all the wrong things he has done, Hansie Cronje is and will remain one of the greatest South African to play the game!!

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