Bedingham reaffirms commitment to SA

One of South Africa’s most successful first-class batsmen, who hasn’t played in his home country for two years, has reconfirmed his commitment to the country of his birth and alleged his commitment to playing test cricket for the Proteas.

David Bedingham left Western Province to take up a fulltime contract with Durham in the county championship in 2021 and briefly considered qualifying for England after scoring a mountain of runs.

But that view changed once he realised that his best years would offer no chance of appearing on the international stage.

“I could get a passport to play for England in the next three years but, when I looked at it, while I’m playing my best cricket between the ages of 28 and 31 I want to be able to play test cricket now. So, trying to do my (resident) days in England was quite frustrating, even if I scored 10 000 runs between now and 2025 I can only play county cricket. I thought, ‘let’s just try and stay focused on South Africa,’ Bedingham said.

As unlikely as the ‘call-up’ might have appeared a couple of months ago, South Africa’s impending fixture clash at the beginning of 2024 might just offer him the opportunity he craves.

The Proteas have two tests scheduled against New Zealand at the beginning of February when the majority the country’s cricketers will be contractually bound to play in the SA20. How would he respond to a call-up?

“I’d be very happy to travel to New Zealand and, hopefully, get a shot at playing some test cricket. It’s always been my dream to play at the highest level so, if they came calling I would definitely not turn it down,” Bedingham said.

PROVEN QUALITY

A first-class career average of over 50 with 17 centuries and 19 half-centuries, runs scored in England as well as South Africa, would suggest a player of proven quality.

Although test cricket, obviously, is different to domestic cricket. But if he was selected, would it be a ‘one-off’ or would he be committed for the long run?

“I’ve looked at the South African test schedule and, if I did get picked, I think I would only miss August for Durham, which is basically just the One-Day Cup now, so it wouldn’t be a massive train smash. I like playing one-day cricket and T20 cricket, and I love playing first-class cricket for Durham, but if I had to give one of them up it would probably be the one-day game.

“I still want to play as much first-class cricket as possible for Durham but South Africa’s (test) schedule now, with the SA20, is a lot less, something like six tests a year. I think it should be a lot more but that’s just how it is so, hopefully it wouldn’t interrupt Durham as much as it could have,” Bedingham said.

If the Proteas do need to rebuild a test team in the absence of their ‘established’ regulars for the tour to New Zealand, they could do a lot worse than structure the middle order around a player described by his Western Province coach at the time, Ashwell Prince, as “a massive loss to South African cricket” when he left three years ago.