Colin Bland biography, married, wife, former cricketer, net worth

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<h2>Early Life and Education</h2>
<p><a href="/biography/colin-bland">Kenneth Colin Bland</a> was born in 1938 in Bulawayo, then part of Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). He received his education at Milton High School, where his exceptional cricketing talent began to emerge at an early age. Bland made his first-class debut for Rhodesia while still a schoolboy, facing off against the touring Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) under the captaincy of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_May_(writer)">Peter May</a>. From 1956 to 1968, he represented Rhodesia in first-class cricket over 55 times.</p>

<h2>Domestic Career in South Africa</h2>
<p>Bland later moved into South African domestic cricket, representing the Orange Free State and the Eastern Province. A tall, elegant, right-handed batsman, he made his debut for the South African national team in 1961. He was a regular in the side until 1967. During the apartheid era, South Africa was increasingly isolated from international sport, which limited Bland’s opportunities to play at the international level. Despite this, he participated in 21 Test matches, scoring 1,669 runs, including three centuries.</p>

<h2>Test Highlights and Batting Success</h2>
<p>One of Bland's most celebrated innings came against England in Johannesburg during the 1964–65 series. With South Africa struggling at 109 for four in their second innings while trailing by 214, Bland played a pivotal role by scoring an unbeaten 144 in four hours, helping to save the match. This performance was a testament to his skill and composure under pressure.</p>

<h2>Fielding Brilliance and Legacy</h2>
<p>Colin Bland is perhaps most renowned for his fielding abilities, particularly in the cover position. He was widely regarded as one of the finest cover fielders in cricket history. His athleticism and anticipation revolutionized the expectations placed on fielders. A notable example of his fielding prowess was during the Lord's Test match, where he executed a spectacular run-out of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Barrington">Ken Barrington</a> and dismissed Jim Parks in similar fashion. Though the match ended in a draw, his contribution left a lasting impression.</p>

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<h2>Honors and Recognition</h2>
<p>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 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_van_der_Merwe_(cricketer)">teammate</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_van_der_Merwe_(cricketer)">Peter van der Merwe</a> to list the greatest cricketers of the 20th century, Bland was nominated. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_van_der_Merwe_(cricketer)">Van der Merwe</a> noted that Bland had revolutionized attitudes toward fielding and set standards that others have yet to surpass.</p>

<h2>Injury and Later Career</h2>
<p>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.</p>

<h2>Personal Life and Legacy</h2>
<p>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.</p>

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