Tiaan van Vuuren’s recent signing by English county giants Surrey was the embodiment of what is going right for South African cricket – and a reminder of what used to be considered as ‘wrong.’
The 24-year-old Knights allrounder, who bats right handed and bowls left-arm pace in the inversion of Lance Klusener and in the mould of Marco Jansen, claimed match figures of 11-105 in the SA ‘A’ teams 8-wicket victory to seal a 2-0 series win against the England Lions at Beckenham in Kent at the end of May.
“We saw what he did in that game and it’s obvious that he can provide a major point of difference with his height and angle,” said Surrey’s Director of Cricket, former England legend Alec Stewart. “We had no doubt that he was a player who could make a difference for us.”
In previous decades any young player being ‘poached’ by English clubs would have been regarded as a threat – or at least a potential threat.
But the vastly changed face of the global game, and South Africa’s gradual acceptance of its place and status within it, has changed everything.
South Africa has always produced more first-class cricketers than it could employ withing it’s domestic structure.
It is the primary reason, way before racial targets were introduced, that players either sought alternative opportunities overseas or simply left the game.
Instead of a ‘loss’, players who have the opportunity to play elsewhere are increasingly regarded as potential ‘assets’.
'LETTING THEM GO' BENEFICIAL TO NATIONAL CAUSE
There will always be players who commit themselves to international careers with ‘second’ nations like Ireland, the Netherlands and Scotland but, with the range of options now open to boost income, more are likely to continue playing domestically in South Africa and pursue the dream of a Proteas career.
Or even a handful of appearances which would, of course, increase their value on the Franchise circuit.
Whereas SA administrators used to be focused on ‘keeping’ their best players as far from overseas intervention as possible, there is now a realisation and recognition that ‘letting them go’ is more likely to benefit than harm the national cause.
Individual performances outside South Africa are now a feature rather than a blight on national selection.
Donovan Ferreira was one of the first to benefit and would, but for injury, have been an important member of the last T20 World Cup squad.
The vastly improved domestic fixture list is also a huge step in the right direction. By amalgamating the 15 provinces with an ‘Emerging XI’ into a 16-team T20 competition, CSA is providing a wider platform and more opportunities.
Those opportunities to earn a living may lie offshore, but that’s where South African cricket has come to terms with the global, financial reality.
The ‘new reality’ starts right at the beginning, too.
GLOBAL MARKET SA'S COLLECTIVE OYSTER
Van Vuuren may be regarded as a ‘youngster’, but SA’s actual youngsters, the Under-19s, have just concluded an equally successful tour against their counterparts in England.
Captain Jason Rowles, who scored a fine double-century, is a target for at least three counties for the seasons ahead.
Yet another left-arm fast bowler, JJ Basson, was the subject of an (informal) approach to remain in England right now to play in the One-Day Cup, such was the impression he made.
English county scouts almost outnumbered the spectators during the Under-19 series.
South Africa’s ‘problem’ with over-producing first-class players is more than matched by England’s problem with under-producing them.
The global market is South Africa’s collective oyster.
Washington Freedom played a match in the recently concluded MLC with six South Africans in their starting XI, including a couple who pledged their international future to the USA some years ago.
How close would Andries Gous be to a Proteas call-up had he enjoyed the ‘freedom’ now extended to domestic players? But timing is everything, and his wasn’t right.
The perception that South Africa’s ‘net’ of potential internationals was closing rather than widening was real.
The reality, now, with the domestic fixture-list expanding providing a larger stage for players to expose their skills, the national team could become stronger, not weaker, with players taking up contracts elsewhere.
There is, now, always a home to come back to and a dream to pursue.