In recognition of his exceptional fielding and all-round contributions, Bland was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1966. Remarkably, he was one of only two cricketers to be featured with a portrait depicting fielding, as opposed to batting, bowling, or wicketkeeping. In 1999, when Wisden invited former teammate Peter van der Merwe to list the greatest cricketers of the 20th century, Bland was nominated. Van der Merwe noted that Bland had revolutionized attitudes toward fielding and set standards that others have yet to surpass.
Bland’s international career came to an end during the 1966–67 series against Australia, after he suffered a serious knee injury. While chasing a ball, he collided with the boundary fence, which forced him to miss the First Test and contributed to the premature conclusion of his Test career. Despite the setback, he continued to play first-class cricket in South Africa until the 1973–1974 season.
Outside of cricket, limited public information is available about Colin Bland’s personal life, including details about his family or net worth. Though he may not have always excelled with the bat, his overall value to the team was significant—often contributing the equivalent of 30 runs or more simply through his fielding excellence. Colin Bland remains a symbol of the transformative impact a fielder can have in the game of cricket.
Return to the previous page| Birth Date: | 5 Apr, 1938 |
| Age: | 82 yrs |
| Occupations: | Cricketer |
| Citizenship: | South Africa |
| Birth Place: | Bulawayo |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | South African cricketer |
| Net Worth 2021: | 4 million |
