Page "Hansie Cronje" Paragraph 3

Cronje made his first-class debut for Orange Free State against Transvaal at Johannesburg in January 1988 at the age of 18.

In the following season, he was a regular appearing in all eight Currie Cup matches plus being part of the Benson and Hedges Series winning team, scoring 73 as an opener in the final.

In 1989-90, despite playing all the Currie Cup matches, he failed to make a century, and averaged only 19. 76 ; however, in one-day games he averaged 60. 12.

During that season he scored his maiden century for South African Universities against Mike Gatting's rebels.