Why is the South African Cricket team called the Proteas?

Answer 1

Defination of Proteas:
Any tropical African shrub of the genus Protea having alternate rigid leaves and dense colorful flower heads resembling cones.

Understood?

ShashiSG told that Kiwi is fruit; but it isn't fruit it's a bird.
It is found only in New Zealand.
(look the answer given by shashisg below. He may later edit it)

Answer 2

The Protea is South Africa's national flower.

Answer 3

Dear the defination of Proteas:
Any tropical African shrub of the genus Protea having alternate rigid leaves and dense colorful flower heads resembling cones, thats why they are called to be Proteas.

Answer 4

Actually, Defination of Proteas goes like this...........

"Any tropical African shrub of the genus Protea having alternate rigid leaves and dense colorful flower heads resembling cones".
Interesting eh?

By the way,.......now South African cricket team has
become juicy fruit for> some other teams like new kid Bangladesh.
Newzealand srilanka tasted that juicy fruit OK enough....!

Answer 5

I think they are called Proteas as Porteas is the National Flower of South Africa if I am not mistaken.

Answer 6

That Means.
Any tropical African shrub of the genus Protea having alternate rigid leaves and dense colorful flower heads resembling cones.

Answer 7

Protea means "a chiefly South African evergreen shrub with large cone-like flower heads surrounded by brightly coloured bracts"

Aussies are known by Kangaroo animal and Newzelenders are known by KIWI fruit. Likewise South Africans are known by the above shrub.

Answer 8

The protea is south africas national flower so the team has adopted it as there emblem and nickname. Like the rugby team who has chosen the springbok.

Answer 9

Proteas after the plant originating from South Africa. As another of their sporting teams are called Springboks after their national animal emblem.



::::: BTW New Zealanderss are called kiwis after the BIRD - a flightless bird from New Zealand, not the fruit. Kiwifruit are actually Chinese gooseberries and originated in - yep - China :::::::