Essex and South Africa may be separated by well over 5,000 miles and have a sea, two entire continents, and the Equator between them, but through the cricketing histories of both, a strong relationship has developed.
Once Dean Elgar takes to the field for his Eagles debut in a little under three months’ time, no fewer than nine internationally-capped Proteas will have pulled on an Essex shirt since Lee Irvine became the first in 1968.
That will put the country in third place on the list of overseas nations to have supplied the most capped players to the Eagles, behind only Australia (14) and New Zealand (10).
In honour of Elgar’s arrival, this is a look back into history at some of Essex’s most storied South African signings.
Simon Harmer
Essex have had their fair share of instrumental overseas signings, from Keith Boyce to the Flower brothers with Allan Border and Mark Waugh mixed in for good measure.
However, the exploits of a right-arm…