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How did apartheid affect South Africa’s place in international cricket?

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Jonny Bairstow of England, wearing a light blue uniform and helmet, batting during the 2019 Cricket World Cup semi-final against Australia, with two Australian fielders behind the stumps. — cricket Jonny Bairstow of England batting during a semifinal match against Australia at the 2019 Cricket World Cup.

Due to the apartheid policies of the South African government, which enforced systemic racial segregation and discrimination, South Africa faced significant isolation in international cricket. The country was banned from the International Cricket Council (ICC) from 1970 to 1991.1

During this period of exclusion, the international community increasingly refused to engage with South African teams that were selected on a racial basis. For instance, in 1971, Don Bradman, then chair of the Australian cricket board, canceled a scheduled tour of Australia by the South African team, declaring that they would not play until the team was chosen on a nonracial basis.2

While banned, South African cricket administrators worked to integrate nonwhite players into a system previously dominated by all-white schools and state teams. Following the abolition of apartheid in 1991, South Africa was readmitted to international competition. The sport was notably better prepared to navigate the subsequent social and political transitions than other South African sports, such as rugby union.1