Johan van der Wath
A hard-hitting South African all-rounder whose explosive batting and brisk seam bowling made him a dangerous limited-overs specialist.
Born 1978 (age 48)·South African cricketer·Birthday: January 10·Generation X
Biography
Johan van der Wath burst onto the international scene as the kind of cricketer who could change a game in a handful of overs. The right-handed batsman possessed raw power, capable of clearing boundaries with ease, while his right-arm medium-fast bowling offered a wicket-taking option. Born in 1978, he honed his skills in South Africa's domestic system, where his aggressive style made him a standout. His international career, though brief, was memorable for its intensity. Van der Wath played 10 One Day Internationals and 2 T20Is for South Africa between 2006 and 2007, often coming in lower down the order to provide a brutal finishing kick or to break a partnership with the ball. His approach was perfectly suited to the shorter formats, and he became a sought-after player in domestic T20 leagues around the world after his international window closed, extending his career as a globe-trotting cricketing mercenary.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Johan was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Johan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Johan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 10 ODIs and 2 T20 Internationals for South Africa.
- Scored a rapid 48 off just 24 balls on his ODI debut against India in 2006.
- Had a successful career in various domestic T20 leagues, including in England and Bangladesh.
Did You Know?
He played for the Northamptonshire Steelbacks in the English T20 competition.
In first-class cricket, he scored a century and took a five-wicket haul in the same match, achieving the 'all-rounder's double'.
His son, Matthew van der Wath, is also a professional cricketer.
“I wanted to hit the ball hard and take wickets when the team needed it.”
