Garth Stirling Le Roux (born 4 September 1955 in Kenilworth, Cape Town) is a former South African first class cricketer. He went to Wynberg Boys' High School, graduating in 1973.

Le Roux was a powerful fast bowler and big hitting tail-end batsman, scoring 26 half centuries in his career. His career coincided with South Africa's ban from international cricket, and he did not play official Test cricket.

After making his first class debut, Le Roux played for South African Universities in 1976–77. During the 1977–78 season, he took 53 Currie Cup wickets and was invited to play for Sussex. Playing for Sussex, he was recruited to play World Series Cricket in Australia where he joined fellow exiles and countrymen, Eddie Barlow, Mike Procter, Clive Rice and Barry Richards. Deprived of international cricket because of the sporting ban due to Apartheid, the South Africans were desperate to do well. With his hostile action and speed, he won the Man of the Series award.

Le Roux had a successful county career with Sussex from 1978 to 1987, playing for the county against New Zealand in 1978 and Australia in 1985. In South Africa he played Currie Cup cricket for Western Province between 1975 and 1989 and was cricketer of the year in 1978, 1986 and 1987. He represented South Africa in 15 unofficial "Tests", taking a hat-trick against the Australian XI in 1986. Le Roux also played in 29 List A matches for South Africa.

On 10 April 2006 Le Roux appeared in court charged with 48 counts of tax fraud involving R 1.8 million. He was found guilty and on 5 December 2008 was sentenced to 4 years in prison.[1] The Cape High Court overturned the conviction on 23 September 2010 and cleared Le Roux of all charges.[2]

First Class career

Team Matches Runs Average HScore Bowled Wickets Average SR
South Africa 15 285 15.83 45 2960 59 23.06 50.1
S.A.Universities 1 18 18.00 18 174 7 7.14 24.8
Sussex 137 3341 28.31 83 19662 393 23.16 50.0
Western Province 86 1781 23.75 86 16626 379 19.22 43.9
Total: 239 5425 25.72 86 39422 838 21.24 47.0

List A career

Team Matches Runs Average HScore Bowled Wickets Average SR
South Africa 29 269 24.45 58 1489 47 20.57 31.6
Sussex 138 1997 24.96 88 6313 197 20.81 32.0
Western Province 83 885 20.11 43 4399 134 18.55 32.8
Total: 250 2911 21.56 88 12201 378 19.99 32.3

World Series Cricket 1978–79

Competition Matches Runs Average HScore Bowled Wickets Average SR
Supertests 3 34 11.33 33* 648 17 15.88 38.1
International Cup 9 32 16.00 12* 337 17 13.00 19.8
100 Over Matches 3 6 3.00 6 272 10 10.00 27.2
Country Tour 7 12 6.00 11 330 8 16.38 41.2

References

  1. ^ Garth le Roux gets four years for tax fraud
  2. ^ Garth le Roux vindicated

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