RIP: Cricket icon, father of Proteas star, passes away
Beloved former cricketer Kevin McKenzie, who enjoyed an illustrious domestic career with Transvaal, has passed away at the age of 77.
The South African cricket community is in mourning following the passing of former first-class stalwart Kevin McKenzie, who died on Saturday.
McKenzie made his first-class debut in the 1966/67 season, beginning a 20-year journey with Transvaal that would see him become a fixture of the South African domestic circuit.
A cornerstone of the legendary “Mean Machine” Transvaal era, McKenzie was widely regarded as one of the finest batsmen of his generation to never play Test cricket, due to South Africa’s sporting isolation during the prime of his career.
McKenzie is the father of Neil, the well-known former Proteas star who was a consistent performer for the national team from 2000 onwards.
Kevin McKenzie was an icon of South African cricket
A technically gifted right-handed batsman, McKenzie was known for his composure at the crease and a relentless appetite for runs.
Over the course of his career, which spanned until 1987, McKenzie amassed over 10,000 first-class runs, maintaining an average in the high 30s – a remarkable feat considering the quality of the bowling attacks and the uncovered pitches of the era.
“Mean Machine” and International Recognition
While international honours in the form of official Test caps were out of reach, McKenzie’s talent did not go unnoticed. He was a frequent selection for the South African Barbarians and featured prominently in the “Rebel Tours” of the 1980s, where he held his own against world-class international opposition.
His contributions were pivotal in Transvaal’s dominance of the Currie Cup and the Benson & Hedges Series during the 1980s, playing alongside greats such as Clive Rice, Jimmy Cook, and Ray Jennings.
Tributes have poured in on social media, with former cricket star Vince Van Der Bijl stating: “The news of Kevin McKenzie’s sudden passing on the golf course today has devastated all those who were lucky enough to know him.
“Simply, he was loved by all. And by that I mean everyone who knew him, played with and against him in all sports or simply had one drink with him. Mark Nicholas went on record saying Mike Procter was the most loved of all the legends of the game.
“For the same reason, loving, positive, loyal, great team man and opponent, generous to a fault and just an amazing human being. We send our prayers to Wilma and all their special family. The third ‘loved by all cricketer’ is Kenny McEwen.
“A real privilege to know and love them. May Kev RIP. So many stories and memories that would fill a book.”
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