Andrew Maclean Pollock

Andrew Maclean Pollock (11 June 1914 – 19 December 1969) was a Scottish-born South African cricketer known primarily for his role in one of the country's most distinguished cricketing families.^[1] Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Pollock emigrated to South Africa and represented Orange Free State in provincial cricket as a left-handed batsman and wicket-keeper.^[1] He appeared in seven first-class matches for the team between the 1933–34 and 1946–47 seasons, scoring 22 runs at an average of 2.75 with a highest score of 12, while effecting seven catches and one stumping.^[1] Pollock's most enduring legacy lies in his family connections to international cricket; he was the father of Test players Peter Pollock, a prominent fast bowler who took 116 wickets in 28 matches for South Africa, and Graeme Pollock, widely regarded as one of the finest batsmen of his era with a Test average of 60.97 from 23 appearances.^[2]^[3] He was also the grandfather of Shaun Pollock, a versatile all-rounder who played 108 Tests and 303 ODIs for South Africa, amassing over 3,700 Test runs and 393 ODI wickets.^[3] The Pollock lineage, spanning three generations of first-class and international performers, exemplifies a rare cricketing dynasty rooted in Scottish heritage and South African provincial roots.^[2]

Early Life and Background

Birth and Origins

Andrew Maclean Pollock was born on 11 June 1914 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, to a family of Scottish heritage.^[1]^[4] His father, Rev. James Pollock, was a clergyman, while his mother was Margaret Houston Pollock (née Jackson).^[4]^[5] Pollock grew up in Edinburgh alongside siblings, including brothers John Jackson (Jack) Pollock and one private sibling, as well as sister Margarette Shannon Pollock, all born in Scotland.^[4] His early childhood was spent in the Scottish capital, immersed in a Presbyterian family environment shaped by his father's clerical role, though specific details on initial sports exposure remain undocumented in available records.^[4]

Move to South Africa

Andrew Maclean Pollock, born in Edinburgh, Scotland, emigrated to South Africa with his family sometime after 1914 and before 1935.^[1] The move positioned the family in the Orange Free State province, where Pollock, then aged 20, made his first-class cricket debut for the provincial team during the 1934–35 season.^[1] Initial settlement in this inland region likely involved adaptation to South Africa's diverse landscapes and economy, with Pollock engaging in local cricket as a means of community involvement. The family later moved to Natal Province, where Pollock's sons Peter and Graeme were born, before relocating to Port Elizabeth in the Cape Province (now Eastern Cape), where Pollock established a career in journalism and served as editor of the Port Elizabeth Herald.^[6] His post-arrival experiences centered on professional development in media and sports, reflecting the broader opportunities available to Scottish immigrants in South Africa's interwar and postwar periods.

Cricket Career

First-Class Matches

Andrew Maclean Pollock played seven first-class matches exclusively for Orange Free State in the Currie Cup, spanning the 1934/35 and 1937/38 seasons, with no appearances in the intervening years.^[1] As a wicket-keeper and lower-order left-handed batsman, his role was primarily to support the team defensively behind the stumps while contributing occasional runs in challenging situations. Pollock made his debut in the 1934/35 Currie Cup against Transvaal at the Old Wanderers in Johannesburg from 9 to 12 March 1935. Batting at number eight, he scored 7 in the first innings, dismissed by Nupen, and remained not out on 0 in the second as Orange Free State reached 74 for 6 before the match was drawn.^[7] Later that season, he featured against Western Province at Ramblers Cricket Club Ground in Bloemfontein from 1 to 4 March 1935, where he was not out on 0 in a second-innings collapse to 85 all out; Western Province won by an innings and 82 runs.^[8] He also appeared against Griqualand West at the same venue from 1 to 3 January 1935, a drawn match.^[9] Returning after a two-year absence, Pollock played four matches in the 1937/38 Currie Cup. Against Natal at Kingsmead in Durban from 16 to 17 December 1937, he batted twice in a heavy defeat by an innings and 262 runs, scoring 0 (stumped by Williams off Murray) in the first innings of 94 all out and 1 (caught by Harvey off Anderson) in the second of 57.^[10] He faced Griqualand West at Bloemfontein from 6 to 8 January 1938, scoring 2 (bowled by Viljoen) in a low-scoring draw.^[11] A highlight came against Transvaal at Johannesburg from 20 to 24 January 1938, where he scored 0 (lbw to Barker) and 12 in the second innings—his career-best—during another drawn encounter.^[12] His final first-class match was versus Eastern Province at Bloemfontein from 11 to 12 February 1938, scoring 0 (run out) in a loss by an innings and 79 runs.^[13] Throughout these games, Pollock's keeping was steady, though his batting yielded modest returns amid Orange Free State's struggles in the competition. No further first-class matches are recorded after 1938, despite mentions of activity up to the 1946–47 season in some sources.

Playing Statistics and Style

Andrew Maclean Pollock's first-class cricket career was brief, consisting of seven matches for Orange Free State between the 1934–35 and 1937–38 seasons. As a left-handed batsman, he scored a total of 22 runs across eight innings, achieving a batting average of 2.75 with a highest score of 12; he did not record any fifties or centuries. Pollock did not bowl in any of these matches, resulting in zero wickets taken.^[1] In his role as wicketkeeper, Pollock demonstrated competence behind the stumps, securing 7 catches and effecting 1 stumping over the course of his career. His overall statistics reflect the limited opportunities available in provincial South African cricket during the 1930s, where he primarily contributed through fielding rather than batting prowess.^[1] Pollock's playing style emphasized his utility as a wicketkeeper-batsman, relying on a solid defensive technique suited to lower-order positions, though specific signature shots or advanced techniques are not well-documented given the brevity of his appearances. Compared to contemporaries in Orange Free State cricket, such as batsmen who amassed higher aggregates in similar fixtures, Pollock's modest output underscores a career curtailed by fewer matches and perhaps external factors beyond the playing field.^[1]

Family and Legacy

Immediate Family

The Pollocks had two sons. Their elder son, Peter Maclean Pollock, was born on 30 June 1941 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal.^[14] Their younger son, Graeme Craig Pollock, was born on 27 February 1944 in Durban. Both sons pursued careers in cricket, following in their father's footsteps as players. The family resided in Port Elizabeth, Cape Province.

Influence on Cricket Family

Andrew Maclean Pollock was the father of Peter and Graeme Pollock, two of South Africa’s finest cricketers of the 1960s.^[15] His own experience as a first-class wicketkeeper-batsman provided a cricketing pedigree that contributed to the family's legacy.^[15] The family's collective achievements underscore Pollock's foundational role, with Peter taking 116 Test wickets as a fast bowler, Graeme amassing 2,256 Test runs as one of the era's premier batsmen, and subsequent generations extending the legacy—Graeme's sons Anthony and Andrew Graeme playing first-class cricket, and Peter's son Shaun captaining South Africa in 108 Tests.^[15] This multi-generational success has positioned the Pollocks as one of cricket's most notable dynasties, with Pollock recognized as the originator of their cricketing heritage.^[15]

Death

Final Years

After retiring from first-class cricket, Andrew Maclean Pollock settled in Port Elizabeth, Cape Province, focusing on his family life there. He and his wife raised their two sons, Peter and Graeme, in the city during the mid-20th century.^[16] Pollock continued to reside in Port Elizabeth until his death on 19 December 1969.^[1]

Circumstances of Death

Andrew Maclean Pollock passed away on 19 December 1969 in Port Elizabeth, Cape Province, South Africa, at the age of 55.^[1] His death came approximately one month before the start of South Africa's Test series against Australia in the 1969–70 season.^[17] Pollock's son, Graeme Pollock, later reflected that the loss provided personal motivation during the series, contributing to South Africa's dominant 4–0 victory.^[17]