Marchant de Lange and co ‘robbing’ England of new cricket stars

Don’t think it’s just South African cricket that complains over the exodus of local players to the United Kingdom.

Certain sections of the English cricketing family aren’t happy either.

Former Proteas quick Marchant de Lange has become the latest target accused by critics of robbing English players of playing opportunities.

Also read: Wayne Parnell still represents ‘the future’ of the Proteas

The 26-year-old, who played two Tests for South Africa, recently joined county side Glamorgan.

He didn’t qualify for a so-called Kolpak contract but managed to wangle a gig as an overseas player because his wife has a British passport.

Steve Rhodes, a former England wicketkeeper and current coach of Worcestershire, is one prominent local voice who’s not impressed with De Lange’s recruitment.

“I think some of Glamorgan’s inclusions, moving away from the boys from the valleys, is disappointing,” he told Wales Online.

“Their attack could be an Australian in Michael Hogan, a South African in Marchant de Lange and Craig Meschede who was born in South Africa and raised here. Timm van der Gugten is playing on a Dutch passport.

“I don’t think that’s necessarily a good thing for English cricket.”

It doesn’t actually stop there.

Glamorgan also boast former Proteas batters in Jacques Rudolph and Colin Ingram, who potentially keep out promising local batsmen.

It’s a problem in general because – with perhaps the exception of Sussex’s Stiaan van Zyl – the South African players don’t necessarily go to England to improve for future Proteas selection again.

Rhodes subtly accused Glamorgan, who play Worcestershire from Thursday onwards, of buying foreign players to “improve results in the short-term” instead of focusing on the future.

“I’d never say we are not going to recruit foreign players at Worcester,” he said.

“All of a sudden you may get a cracker-jack player who is worth the effort and money to bring to Worcester. That could be a real bonus to Worcestershire and county cricket.

“But surely it’s about producing English-qualified players that England can pick. Sadly a lot of these (foreign) guys are going to be taking up major positions in local teams.”

For more sport your way, follow The Citizen on Facebook and Twitter.