John Traicos makes his International Cricket Test debut for South Africa

On 5 February 1970, a disciplined and perfect off-spinner, John Traicos  one of international cricket's most unusual members, made his Test debut - for South Africa  vs Australia at Durban in their final series before their banishment from Test cricket. Born on 17 May 1947 in Zagazig, Egypt, Traicos returned to international cricket in 1992, aged 45, playing in Zimbabwe's first four Tests. The break between appearances - 22 years and 222 days - is a record. Traicos grew up in South Africa, touring England in 1967 with the South African Universities team, and thereafter played for Rhodesia (now known as Zimbabwe) at a time when many of his contemporaries plied their trade overseas. When Zimbabwe was finally admitted to the fold in 1992, Traicos, despite his age, was still far and away the best off-spinner in the country and one of best in the world.  In his cricket career he has represented more than one country, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The speed of his reactions fielding in the gully would have shamed many half his age. In Zimbabwe's inaugural Test he took 5 for 86 in 50 overs. His international career ended when business commitments meant he was not available to tour Pakistan in 1993-94. Traicos fled Zimbabwe with his family in 1997 for political reasons and is now a company secretary in Australia.