About Johannes Kotze
Johannes Jacobus "Kodgee" Kotze, or Kotzé (7 August 1879 – 7 July 1931) was a cricketer from Cape Colony who played in three Test matches for South Africa from 1902 to 1907. He was considered one of the fastest bowlers of his time. He toured England with the South African teams in 1901, 1904 and 1907. == Cricket career == At his death in 1931, Wisden ranked Kotze as one of the half-dozen fastest bowlers there had ever been. He was able to maintain his speed for long spells, and could bowl as fast late in the day as at the start. He was a poor batsman and clumsy fielder, though, which may have told against him when the South African Test teams were selected. He was one of very few prominent Afrikaner cricketers of the period; he was the only Afrikaner in South Africa's 1901 tour of England, which took place during the Second Boer War. Kotze had played no first-class cricket and was virtually unknown when he was a surprise selection to tour England with the South African team in 1901. In the event, he was one of the four principal bowlers on the tour, taking 49 first-class wickets at an average of 24.79, including 7 for 31 and 3 for 51 in the victory over Nottinghamshire. No Test matches were played during the tour.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.