van Ryneveld is the oldest living South African captain. He was considered as one of the best all-rounders of his generation. van Ryneveld batted right-handed and bowled leg-spin, he was also a superb fielder. When van Ryneveld left Oxford University, he was a double Blue and played cricket and rugby (as a three-quarter for England).

He played a total of 19 Tests, scoring 724 runs and picking up 17 wickets. van Ryneveld captained South Africa against England and Australia in 1956-57. However, his barrister career was taking more time and his cricket outings became far and less. After retiring from cricket he became a member of the House of Assembly.

van Ryneveld also entered politics and in 1957 was elected to the Parliament as a member of the United Party. After two years, he and 11 other MPs broke the United Party and formed the Progressive Party which adopted a more aggressive approach in sorting out the apartheid issue. However, in the 1961 general election all Progressive MPs except one lost their seats.

Cape Town has been his home and he lives there with his wife, Verity and three children, Mark, Philip and Tessa.


by Akshay Maanay