Ashwell Gavin Prince is a former professional cricket player hailing from South Africa. Born on May 28, 1977, in Port Elizabeth, Prince made a name for himself with his gutsy batting style and excellent fielding skills. As a left-hander with a high-batted stance, Prince was often compared to legendary cricketer Graham Gooch due to his crouching posture and determined demeanor.
Prince made his Test debut against the formidable Australian team during the 2001-02 season. In that match, he showcased his potential by top-scoring with a resilient 49. This innings, along with a match-winning knock of 48 in the third Test in Durban, helped dispel the notion that Prince was only effective in limited-overs cricket. Unfortunately, his form took a nosedive in the following season, resulting in consecutive failures against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in home Tests.
However, Prince managed to regain his spot in the national team through strong performances at the domestic level. His gritty contributions in the middle order against West Indies and England at home solidified his position. Despite scoring two centuries in the 2004-05 season, including an unbeaten 139 against Zimbabwe and a sublime 131 against the West Indies, Prince still had to fight for his place in the Test side.
Known for his strong strokes through the offside, Prince was highly regarded by South Africa’s cricket management. He won the Western Province’s player of the year award in 2001 and showcased his exceptional fielding abilities, although his throwing from the deep was hampered by a long-standing shoulder injury. The highlight of his career came during the third Test against Australia in Sydney in 2006 when he scored a magnificent 119. However, he struggled against the legendary spinner Shane Warne, who dismissed him in the first five innings of the series.
In July 2006, Prince became South Africa’s first non-white captain in the absence of the injured Graeme Smith. Unfortunately, the team lost 2-0 to Sri Lanka under his leadership, leading to his replacement by Mark Boucher. Despite this setback, Prince continued to shine in Test cricket, particularly against India and Pakistan, scoring crucial runs throughout the series.
Prince faced a setback in his career when he broke his thumb before the 2008-09 series against Australia, and JP Duminy replaced him. Although promised his position back, Prince was left out of the team until Smith suffered an injury during the return series against Australia. On his return, he scored a defiant 150 as an opening batsman.
Prince remained a key figure in the South African middle order until his retirement. In a career spanning 18 Tests, he scored three half-centuries, with a top score of 78*. During his final season with the Lancashire county cricket team in 2015, Prince recorded his career-best score of 261.
After retiring from professional cricket, Prince stayed involved in the game by serving on South Africa’s selection panel. With a reputation for his resilience and determination on the field, Ashwell Gavin Prince continues to be remembered as an influential cricketer from South Africa.