England legend D'Oliveira dies

Obituary: Basil D'Oliveira (UK users only)

Former England all-rounder Basil D'Oliveira has died at the age of 80.

Born in South Africa, he moved to England in 1960 because of to the lack of opportunities for non-white players.

In 1968 he was named in England's squad to tour South Africa which was then cancelled as the ruling National Party refused to accept his presence.

D'Oliveira played county cricket for Worcestershire between 1964-80 and represented England in 44 Tests, scoring 2,484 runs at an average of 40.

The headlines made by D'Oliveira in 1968 marked the start of South Africa's sporting isolation.

After being added to the England squad as a replacement for the injured Tom Cartwright the South African government made it clear a 'Cape coloured' would not be welcome.

D'OLIVEIRA'S TEST CAREER

• Test caps: 44
• Test debut: v West Indies 1966
• Last test: v Australia 1972
• Runs: 2484
• 100s: 5
• Ave: 40.06
• Wickets: 47
• Best (match): 5-62
• Econ rate: 1.95

The tour was called off and the incident culminated in a ban on sporting ties with South Africa which would last until the early 1990s.

No official team from any country subsequently toured South Africa until apartheid was abolished following Nelson Mandela's release from prison in 1990.

Cricket South Africa chief executive Gerald Majola paid tribute to the man fondly called 'Dolly' whose health had been deteriorating for some time leading up to his death in England.

"He was a man of true dignity and a wonderful role model as somebody who overcame the most extreme prejudices and circumstances to take his rightful place on the world stage," said Majola.

Analysis

Basil D'Oliveira was a man who proved the doctrine of racial prejudice wrong. 'Dolly' as he was affectionately called, shook the very foundations of apartheid racist theory. When the white minority regime said black people were not fit to play alongside their white counterparts, Basil displayed an amazing talent for the sport. The Pretoria government's refusal in 1968 to allow him to play in a Test series cranked up the anti-apartheid call for a sports ban. Ironically, D'Oliveira was not being barred from playing for his country of birth - he was deprived from playing for England, who had taken him in after he was shown no appreciation at home. The tour was cancelled and consequently the sporting world was galvanized to boycott apartheid South Africa.

"The circumstances surrounding his being prevented from touring the country of his birth with England in 1968 led directly to the intensification of opposition to apartheid around the world and contributed materially to the sports boycott that turned out to be an Achilles heel of the apartheid government.

"Throughout this shameful period in South Africa's sporting history, Basil displayed a human dignity that earned him worldwide respect and admiration.

"His memory and inspiration will live on among all of us. On behalf of the CSA family I would like to convey our sympathies to his family and salute them on a life well lived."

Worcestershire honoured him in 2003 by naming a new stand after him at their New Road ground.

Already an OBE, in 2005 he was awarded the CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours. Another honour was afforded him when the D'Oliveira Trophy was inaugurated as the prize for when England meet South Africa in a Test series.

D'Oliveira's son Damian played county cricket for Worcestershire, between 1982 and 1995.

In August his grandson Brett, a leg-spinner, also signed for Worcestershire on a one-year contract.