Legendary Bland dies at 80
REVOLUTIONARY. That was how former teammate Ali Bacher described Colin Bland, who has died at the age of 80.
Bland died at his home in London on Saturday night, after a lengthy illness.
Bland, who was born in Bulawayo, played 21 Tests for South Africa between 1961 and 1966, and was part of the side that became the first from this country to win a Test series in England in 1965.
Bacher said many spectators had, during that tour, simply come to watch Bland in action. “It was a case of come and watch Graeme Pollock bat and Colin field, he was amazing.”
Comparisons have been drawn with Jonty Rhodes, who elevated fielding further when he burst onto the international scene following South Africa’s return from international sporting isolation. “Jonty used to huff and puff, almost bulldozer-like in the field; Colin was very different, he was incredibly graceful, sheer poetry in motion. He was magic.”
Because his fielding was world renowned, many often forgot what a fine batsman Bland was, too. Despite a first-class average of just 37.95, he was still picked for the South African side and thrived at Test level, averaging 49.08 in 39 innings. “He was a big-match player, he needed those big events. He thrived in those types of atmospheres,” said Bacher.
“He wasn’t a prolific cutter or puller, but he drove the ball extremely well. He was a beautiful player off the front foot, through both the off and on sides.”
Bacher said Bland played a critical part in his development as an international player too, describing a chat the pair had on a bus trip during that tour in 1965. “I’d made 5 and 5 in the tour game against Derbyshire, and was dropped from the side for the next match against Yorkshire. I was really down in the dumps. After the Yorkshire game we headed back to London, and I was really depressed, so just sat by myself on the bus. Colin saw this and came over and we chatted for an hour. I can’t remember the exact detail of what he said, but he saved me, he really did. He just lifted my confidence.”
Bacher described Bland as a quiet, introverted presence in the dressing room. “But I never forgot how he helped me in England. We had a good, warm relationship.”