Proteas fast bowler Dane Paterson has effectively ended a burgeoning international career by signing a Kolpak contract with Nottinghamshire in English county cricket.

Paterson collected four ODI and eight T20I appearances between 2017 and 2019 and welcomed a Test debut against England earlier this year.

The 31-year-old right-armer was not listed among the players contracted by the Cape Cobras for the 2020-21 season.

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‘When a player gets to over 30, especially as a bowler, they don’t have that many years left in you. I’m sure these guys sit down and calculate what realistic opportunities will they have of playing for the Proteas and, if not, they will consider other options. I think this is probably how this came about,’ said Cobras head coach Ashwell Prince.

‘It is disappointing but the player is also asking themselves, “If I just played for the Proteas a few weeks ago, why am I not in any ODI squads, any T20I squads?” He might be thinking maybe he only played in that Test because so many guys were injured. Kagiso Rabada was suspended, Lungi Ngidi was unfit or injured and then the ODI squads come out, the T20I squads come out and he didn’t feature in any of them.’

Former Proteas stars Vernon Philander and Hashim Amla have also signed Kolpak contracts, with Somerset and Surrey, respectively.

The Cobras have lost batsman David Bedingham and spinner Dane Piedt to the United Kingdom and United States of America, respectively, as well.

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