Neil McKenzie

Neil McKenzie started off as an opener but soon settled into the South African middle order. Cricket came naturally to him, his father, Kevin McKenzie, having represented SA earlier. McKenzie junior had a good start to his career. He got a Test century and an ODI century in his very first season in 2000-01. However, he struggled to keep going and in a South African side that was jostling for space in the middle order, he found it difficult to settle into a specific role.

He also struggled to convert the starts he got into something more substantial. South Africa refused to be content with just impressive fifties. Thus he soon fell out of contention in 2004. People were also questioning his technique against quality spin bowling. All these resulted in a three year exile from the International arena.

He made a return to the Test side in 2008 after Gibbs' loss of form. He returned as an opener and quickly made it count. He forged a potent opening combination with Graeme Smith. The duo in fact put on 415 runs, opening against Bangladesh in 2008. McKenzie got a career best 226 in the same innings. He moved from strength to strength in 2008 and also got more then 1000 runs in the calendar year. His achievements were recognized when he was named as one of the five cricketers of the year by Wisden in 2009.

His return to the ODI squad was not so sweet though. He struggled in Australia managing just one fifty after his return in 2009 and was soon dropped from the side. Age was not on his side and with form deserting him in 2009, he was soon dropped from the Test side too after a string of poor returns. With South Africa, looking to build a team for the future, Neil McKenzie's career was cut-short but he will always be remembered as a gutsy cricketer who gave it his best every time he walked out on the field.

In January 2010, he signed for Hampshire and has been playing County cricket in England. He also plays for Highveld Lions in the domestic competition and acts as the mentor for them as well. He has dedicated his time in grooming youngsters like Quinton de Kock, Chris Morris to name a few.

Interesting facts: His younger sister, Megan, is an international model and was recently voted the sexiest woman in South Africa by readers of FHM magazine (hence the 'where's your sister' jibes from spectators whenever McKenzie fields near the boundary).

McKenzie can afford to take this in good humour: he has been dating his sister's close friend, Kerry McGregor, the 22-year-old Wonderbra model, for some years and eventually married her.

By Ganesh Chandrasekaran and Akshay Maanay