One of three former internationals in the South African Over-50s line-up, Alan Dawson may just be one of the fittest players at the tournament.
He played two Tests and 19 ODIs for his country, and won Commonwealth gold in Kuala Lumpur in 1998 thanks to a memorable last-wicket partnership with Nicky Boje to beat Steve Waugh’s fancied Australia in the final.
But it is perhaps his numerous feats on the domestic scene that stand out. He famously scored 143 batting at number 9 in the 1998/99 SuperSport Series decider when Western Province’s top order had been obliterated, and was named one of South Africa’s five cricketers of the year in 2003/04.
Overall he took 305 First-Class wickets at an average of 25.42, and a further 232 List A wickets at just over 22.
He was a key man for South Africa in the COVID-shortened 2020 Over-50s World Cup, and is likely to again be the main man with bat and ball this year.
Nickname: Dawsie
Favourite cricketers: Peter Kirsten/Garth le Roux
Toughest batsmen bowled to: Jacques Kallis/Herschelle Gibbs/Gary Kirsten
Toughest bowlers faced: “Rudi Bryson, Brett Schultz & Eldine Baptiste on debut!”
Picture courtesy of Goolam Taliep