Zander de Bruyn
Encyclopedia
Zander de Bruyn is a South Africa
n cricket
er. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler
. He has played three Test matches
for South Africa, and currently plays domestic cricket for the Highveld Lions
and Surrey County Cricket Club
. He is a batting all-rounder
whose elegance at the crease has drawn comparisons to former South Africa captain Hansie Cronje
. His medium-pace bowling can take the pressure off the front-line bowlers, with his ability to restrict the run-rate and take partnership breaking wickets.
in 2002. Having being out of a contract at Gauteng, and without an offer of a new one, he took a part-time job in a retail clothing firm Coach Ray Jennings
offered him a place in the team on a pay-as-you-play basis, and de Bruyn returned to first-class cricket. In the 2003–04 SuperSport Series
, after a missable first innings, de Bruyn top scored with 169 to help Easterns claim the title for the first time.
His first-class batting average prior to this was a meagre 29.61, while his batting average since is over 40. In 2003–04
he became only the second player in South African cricket, after Barry Richards, to score 1000 domestic first-class runs in a season, in either the SuperSport Series
or the Currie Cup.
De Bruyn's Test
debut came against India in November 2004. He played in both Tests in the South Africans tour of India, scoring his career best Test score of 83 in the first innings of the first Test. He kept his place in the squad for the home series against England, playing in the first Test; but was subsequently dropped for the return of Jacques Kallis
.
In 2005
, he joined Worcestershire
as a Kolpak player. During this time, he failed to impress; his first-class wickets costing almost a hundred runs each, and only a late season century against Somerset
rescuing his batting average. He was part of the Titans
squad that shared the 2005–06 SuperSport Series
. The following season, he moved to the Warriors
, but was limited to only five first-class appearances. In 2007–08, he posted his best bowling figures of 7/67 against previous club Titans. In both 2006–07 and 2007–08, he was a losing finalist in the MTN Domestic Championship
.
In April 2008 de Bruyn signed for Somerset
as a Kolpak player. He remained with them for the 2009 season, leading the team in Twenty20 Cup
runs. In June 2009, it was announced that de Bruyn had signed for the Lions
. On 3 December 2010, it was announced that de Bruyn had signed a one year deal at Surrey
as a Kolpak player. After this season he could obtain a British passport.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler
Fast bowling
Fast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling...
. He has played three Test matches
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
for South Africa, and currently plays domestic cricket for the Highveld Lions
Highveld Lions cricket team
The Highveld Lions is the name used by the combined Gauteng and North West first class cricket teams in South Africa. The home venues are the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg and Senwes Park in Potchefstroom....
and Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
. He is a batting all-rounder
All-rounder
An all-rounder is a cricketer who regularly performs well at both batting and bowling. Although all bowlers must bat and quite a few batsmen do bowl occasionally, most players are skilled in only one of the two disciplines and are considered specialists...
whose elegance at the crease has drawn comparisons to former South Africa captain Hansie Cronje
Hansie Cronje
Wessel Johannes "Hansie" Cronje was a South African cricketer and captain of the South African national cricket team in the 1990s...
. His medium-pace bowling can take the pressure off the front-line bowlers, with his ability to restrict the run-rate and take partnership breaking wickets.
Career
De Bruyn began his career with Transvaal cricket team (later Gauteng cricket team). However, his career only really started to prosper when he joined EasternsEasterns cricket team
Easterns cricket team has played first-class cricket in South Africa since October 1991.For the purposes of the SuperSport Series, Easterns has merged with Northerns to form the Titans.-Honours:* Currie Cup - 2002–03; shared - * Standard Bank Cup - * South African...
in 2002. Having being out of a contract at Gauteng, and without an offer of a new one, he took a part-time job in a retail clothing firm Coach Ray Jennings
Ray Jennings
Raymond Vernon Jennings is a former South African cricketer. He was one of South Africa's leading wicket-keepers during the apartheid era....
offered him a place in the team on a pay-as-you-play basis, and de Bruyn returned to first-class cricket. In the 2003–04 SuperSport Series
SuperSport Series
The SuperSport Series is the main domestic first class cricket competition in South Africa, first contested in 1889-90. From 1990-91 it became known as the Castle Cup, and from 1996-97 by its current title...
, after a missable first innings, de Bruyn top scored with 169 to help Easterns claim the title for the first time.
His first-class batting average prior to this was a meagre 29.61, while his batting average since is over 40. In 2003–04
History of cricket in South Africa from 2000-01
This article describes the history of South African cricket from the 2000–01 season.Noted South African players in the 21st century have included Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Mark Boucher, Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs-Domestic cricket:...
he became only the second player in South African cricket, after Barry Richards, to score 1000 domestic first-class runs in a season, in either the SuperSport Series
SuperSport Series
The SuperSport Series is the main domestic first class cricket competition in South Africa, first contested in 1889-90. From 1990-91 it became known as the Castle Cup, and from 1996-97 by its current title...
or the Currie Cup.
De Bruyn's Test
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
debut came against India in November 2004. He played in both Tests in the South Africans tour of India, scoring his career best Test score of 83 in the first innings of the first Test. He kept his place in the squad for the home series against England, playing in the first Test; but was subsequently dropped for the return of Jacques Kallis
Jacques Kallis
Jacques Henry Kallis is a South African cricketer. As an all-rounder he is a formidable right-handed batsman and fast-medium swingbowler. He is one of the greatest all-rounders of all time, being the only cricketer in the history of the game to hold more than 12,000 runs and 250 wickets in both...
.
In 2005
2005 English cricket season
Before the beginning of the 2005 English cricket season began, a resurgent English cricket team had won four Test series in a row, going unbeaten through the 2004 calendar year. The start of the international season saw England defeat Bangladesh 2–0 in their two-match series, winning both Tests by...
, he joined Worcestershire
Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...
as a Kolpak player. During this time, he failed to impress; his first-class wickets costing almost a hundred runs each, and only a late season century against Somerset
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...
rescuing his batting average. He was part of the Titans
Titans cricket team
The Nashua Titans is the name used by the combined Easterns and Northerns first class cricket teams in South Africa. The home venues of the Titans are at SuperSport Park, Centurion and Willowmoore Park, Benoni...
squad that shared the 2005–06 SuperSport Series
SuperSport Series
The SuperSport Series is the main domestic first class cricket competition in South Africa, first contested in 1889-90. From 1990-91 it became known as the Castle Cup, and from 1996-97 by its current title...
. The following season, he moved to the Warriors
Warriors cricket team
The Chevrolet Warriors is the name used by the combined Eastern Province and Border first class cricket teams in South Africa. The home venues of the Warriors are St George's Park, Port Elizabeth and Buffalo Park, East London....
, but was limited to only five first-class appearances. In 2007–08, he posted his best bowling figures of 7/67 against previous club Titans. In both 2006–07 and 2007–08, he was a losing finalist in the MTN Domestic Championship
MTN Domestic Championship
The 1 Day Cup is the premier domestic one-day cricket competition of South Africa, its matches having List A status...
.
In April 2008 de Bruyn signed for Somerset
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...
as a Kolpak player. He remained with them for the 2009 season, leading the team in Twenty20 Cup
Twenty20 Cup
The Twenty20 Cup was a cricket competition for English and Welsh county clubs.In 2010, it has been replaced by Friends Provident t20 as the domestic Twenty20 competition.-History:...
runs. In June 2009, it was announced that de Bruyn had signed for the Lions
Highveld Lions cricket team
The Highveld Lions is the name used by the combined Gauteng and North West first class cricket teams in South Africa. The home venues are the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg and Senwes Park in Potchefstroom....
. On 3 December 2010, it was announced that de Bruyn had signed a one year deal at Surrey
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
as a Kolpak player. After this season he could obtain a British passport.