Cricket is a game of individual brilliance within a team sport—centuries by batters, five-wicket hauls by bowlers, and stunning run-outs by fielders often decide who walks away with the coveted ‘Player of the Match’ award. But what happens when every single player delivers a performance so dominant that singling out one feels unjust?
That’s exactly what occurred on February 5, 1999, at Newlands, Cape Town. In the final Test of a lopsided series, South Africa crushed the West Indies by 351 runs—and in a move almost unheard of in international cricket, the match referee awarded the ‘Player of the Match’ honor not to one star, but to the entire South African team. This extraordinary decision remains one of the most fascinating footnotes in cricket history, symbolizing total team supremacy.
Table of Contents
- The Historic 1999 Series: South Africa’s Dominance
- Why the Entire Team Was Named Player of the Match
- Key Performances That Defined the Final Test
- Has This Ever Happened Again in International Cricket?
- Legacy of the Proteas’ 1999 Squad
- Conclusion: A Testament to Collective Excellence
- Sources
The Historic 1999 Series: South Africa’s Dominance
The 1998–99 Test series between South Africa and the West Indies wasn’t just competitive—it was a masterclass in home advantage and strategic execution. Under the captaincy of Hansie Cronje, the Proteas swept the five-match series 5–0, handing the once-dominant Caribbean side their first-ever whitewash in a bilateral Test series.
By the time the teams arrived in Cape Town for the fifth and final Test, the West Indies were demoralized. Their batting lineup—featuring legends like Brian Lara and Jimmy Adams—had crumbled repeatedly against South Africa’s relentless pace attack and disciplined spin. The stage was set for a grand finale, and South Africa delivered in style.
Why the Entire Team Was Named Player of the Match
The decision to award the entire team Player of the Match wasn’t made lightly. Match referee Raman Subba Row faced an impossible task: how do you choose one standout performer when all eleven players contributed decisively?
South Africa posted 549 in their first innings, powered by centuries from Gary Kirsten (119) and Daryll Cullinan (116). Their bowling unit then bundled out the West Indies for just 179, with Shaun Pollock (4/31) and Allan Donald (3/45) leading the charge. In the second innings, the Proteas declared at 262/5, setting a target of 633—a mountain no team had ever scaled in Test history.
The West Indies folded for 281, giving South Africa a monumental 351-run victory. Every batter scored runs, every bowler took wickets, and even the fielders—led by the legendary Jonty Rhodes—executed sharp stops and run-outs. As Subba Row later explained, “It would have been unfair to pick one name when the victory was so clearly a collective effort.”
Key Performances That Defined the Final Test
While the award went to the whole squad, several individuals shone brightly:
- Jacques Kallis: Scored a crucial 74 in the first innings and took 2 wickets, showcasing his all-round prowess early in his career.
- Lance Klusener: Blazed 63 off just 51 balls in the second innings, accelerating the declaration, and chipped in with 2 wickets.
- Jonty Rhodes: Though he didn’t score big, his electric fielding at point saved countless runs and lifted team morale.
- Shaun Pollock: His 4/31 in the first innings broke the back of the West Indies top order.
This synergy—where stars and role players alike executed their parts flawlessly—is what made the victory so complete. It wasn’t just about talent; it was about unity, discipline, and tactical intelligence.
Has This Ever Happened Again in International Cricket?
No. In the entire history of Test, ODI, or T20I cricket, there has been no other instance where an entire team Player of the Match award was officially given by match officials in an international fixture.
There have been symbolic gestures—like Australia’s 2001 Ashes squad sharing a man-of-the-series trophy—but never a formal match award. Even in team sports like football or basketball, such collective recognition is exceedingly rare at the elite level. This makes South Africa’s 1999 achievement truly one-of-a-kind.
As noted by ESPNcricinfo’s archives, the ICC has since standardized award protocols, making a repeat of this scenario highly unlikely .
Legacy of the Proteas’ 1999 Squad
The 1999 South African team is remembered not just for this quirky award, but for its golden generation of talent. Players like Kallis, Pollock, Donald, Klusener, and Rhodes formed the backbone of a side that consistently ranked among the world’s best in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Ironically, this era of dominance was later overshadowed by the Hansie Cronje match-fixing scandal in 2000. Yet, the 1999 whitewash remains a pure, untarnished highlight—a reminder of what South African cricket could achieve when firing on all cylinders.
For fans exploring [INTERNAL_LINK:greatest-south-african-cricket-teams], this squad is always near the top of the list.
Conclusion: A Testament to Collective Excellence
The decision to honor the entire team Player of the Match in Cape Town wasn’t just a feel-good gesture—it was a rare acknowledgment that sometimes, cricket transcends individual stardom. When strategy, skill, and spirit align across all eleven players, the result isn’t just a win; it’s a statement. And in February 1999, South Africa made one of the loudest statements in Test history.
Sources
- Times of India: All for one: When entire SA team was awarded ‘Player of the Match’ in a Test
- ESPNcricinfo: South Africa vs West Indies, 5th Test, 1999 – Match Report
- ICC Cricket Hall of Fame: Profiles of Kallis, Donald, Pollock & Rhodes