South African Cricket Players: AJ Traicos

AJ Traicos Biography

Full name Athanasios John Traicos

Born May 17, 1947, Zagazig, Egypt

Current age 65 years 47 days

Major teams Rhodesia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mashonaland

Batting style Right-hand bat

Bowling style Right-arm offbreak

Batting and fielding averages

Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 4s 6s Ct St

Tests 7 10 4 19 5* 3.16 132 14.39 0 0 2 0 8 0

ODIs 27 17 9 88 19 11.00 175 50.28 0 0 3 0 3 0

First-class 122 169 64 1198 43 11.40 0 0 109 0

List A 125 68 36 331 21* 10.34 0 0 42 0

Bowling averages

Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10

Tests 7 12 1611 769 18 5/86 5/86 42.72 2.86 89.5 0 1 0

ODIs 27 26 1524 987 19 3/35 3/35 51.94 3.88 80.2 0 0 0

First-class 122 25266 10002 289 6/66 34.60 2.37 87.4 8 0

List A 125 7059 4028 104 4/20 4/20 38.73 3.42 67.8 1 0 0

Career statistics

Test debut South Africa v Australia at Durban, Feb 5-9, 1970 scorecard

Last Test India v Zimbabwe at Delhi, Mar 13-17, 1993 scorecard

Test statistics

ODI debut Australia v Zimbabwe at Nottingham, Jun 9, 1983 scorecard

Last ODI India v Zimbabwe at Pune, Mar 25, 1993 scorecard

ODI statistics

First-class span 1967-1995

List A span 1973-1993

Profile

A disciplined and accurate offspinner, John Traicos is one of international cricket's most unusual members. He made his Test debut - for South Africa - in 1969-70 in their final series before they were cast into sporting isolation, and returned to international cricket in 1992, aged 45, playing in Zimbabwe's first four Tests. The gap between appearances - 22 years and 222 days - is a record. Egyptian born, he grew up in South Africa, touring England in 1967 with the South African Universities, and thereafter played for Rhodesia/Zimbabwe at a time many contemporaries plied their trade overseas. When Zimbabwe were finally admitted to the fold in 1992, Traicos, despite his age, was still far and away the best offspinner in the country, and one of best in the world. And the speed of his reactions fielding in the gully would have shamed many half his age. In Zimbabwe's inaugural Test he took 5 for 86 in 50 overs. His international career ended when business commitments meant he was not available to tour Pakistan in 1993-94. Traicos fled Zimbabwe with his family in 1997 for political reasons and is now a company secretary in Australia. His daughter, Chloe, is an actress.

Martin Williamson

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Latest Photos

Jan 17, 2008

John Traicos, the former Zimbabwe offspinner, now settled in Perth

Feb 7, 1994