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Athanasios John Traicos (born 17 May 1947 in Zagazig, Egypt) is a former cricketer who represented South Africa and Zimbabwe at international level. He was primarily an off spin bowler, and is one of a small number of cricketers to have played at the highest level for more than one country.
Traicos grew up in Rhodesia, yet he made his Test match debut for the South African cricket team against Australia at Durban in February 1970. However, after his three appearances in this series, South Africa were banned from international cricket because of the apartheid regime.
Traicos spent many years playing for Rhodesia, which at that time was part of the South African domestic cricket setup. He continued to play for Zimbabwe after the country gained its independence, and appeared for them in the 1982, 1986 and 1990 ICC Trophy tournaments. He also represented Zimbabwe in the 1983 Cricket World Cup, and was an important part of the side which inflicted a shock defeat on Australia.[1]
Zimbabwe were raised to Test status in 1992, and Traicos was selected for the country's inaugural Test match which took place in Harare against India. This appearance came a record 22 years and 222 days since his previous Test appearance,[2] and he repaid the selectors' decision with his best Test bowling figures of 5/86. He played three more Tests for Zimbabwe, and his final appearance came at the age of 45 years and 304 days, making him the oldest Test player since Miran Bux 38 years earlier, and the twelfth oldest of all time.[3] He would have been even further up the list had he been available for selection for the following year's tour of Pakistan, but Traicos' business commitments prevented this.
In 1997, Traicos and his family moved to Australia as a result of political instability in Zimbabwe. He is currently the Company Secretary of Tanami Gold NL, an Australian mining company headquartered in Western Australia.
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Zimbabwe
