Two fast bowlers‚ a short format all-rounder‚ an off-spinner‚ a middle order batsman and an opening batsman — both left-handed — walk into a pub somewhere in deepest‚ palest‚ middle England and say: "Howzit." They are‚ respectively‚ Kyle Abbott and Hardus Viljoen‚ David Wiese‚ Simon Harmer, and Rilee Rossouw and Stiaan van Zyl. It was announced at the weekend that Wiese had signed a contract with Sussex. Those players make up more than half a decent side‚ and they have all signed Kolpak deals in recent months, which takes them out of the equation for selection for SA‚ which they have all earned. Their collective contribution to the cause amounts to 29 Tests‚ 70 one-day appearances and 56 T20 games. All told that is 155 caps’ worth of international experience taken out of the system. Measuring how much the game in this country has lost on its years of investment in players who use it to buy their ticket to England is more difficult. But there is no doubting that South African cricket...
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