Cape Cobras batsman David Bedingham has signed a season-long contract with English County team Durham.
The 25-year-old will therefore be unavailable for selection for the One Day Cup which gets underway this weekend.
Bedingham, who is in his second full season as a Cobras-contracted player expressed his appreciation to a franchise he has supported all his life.
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‘I’m obviously upset to be leaving my Cobras family which has been an environment that I’ve thrived in since joining at the start of the 2018-2019 season. I want to thank my coaches Ashwell Prince and Faiek Davids for giving me the opportunity to play for this proud franchise. I’ve always supported the Cobras since I was a young boy so to play for this team was a dream come true and I hope to always have an affinity with the franchise,’ said Bedingham.
In explaining why he joined Durham, Bedingham, who has an ancestral UK Visa, said he was looking forward to the challenge.
‘The opportunity to join Durham is one that I am excited about and the kind of person I am, I thrive on challenges, after having overcome a number of them during my life to date, and instead of being daunted by the challenge, I am confident that I will continue my growth as a cricketer,’ he added.
‘Finally, I’d like to thank Cape Cobras CEO Mr Nabeal Dien for the guidance since I was 11 years old, he has seen my progression through the WP ranks and I hope to continue the teachings he has imparted on me throughout the years.
‘I wish my Cobras team-mates everything of the best for the One Day Cup and for the future.’
Dien expressed his sadness at losing a player of Bedingham’s quality in the Cape. ‘I’ve known David since he was a young boy and have seen him go through an horrific car accident and come back even stronger and I was very proud when we were in a position to offer him a full franchise contract. Although I’m sad to see him leave this franchise, he goes with my best wishes,’ he said.
Coach Ashwell Prince commented on Bedingham’s departure and urged the powers that be to get to the crux of the matter why players are leaving South Africa.
‘It’s about opportunity, it’s about uncertainty for the players. We tried everything to keep David here. In my honest opinion he has a better chance to play international cricket for South Africa if he had to stay. It’s high time that CSA sits down and look at things a little bit closer and get to the fact of the matter of why players are leaving, don’t beat around the bush, that’s where we’re at. I have a good understanding why he left, if anyone at CSA has spoken to him, they will also understand the reason,’ said Prince.
‘If I have to criticise, people who can play at the highest level cannot just be seen around every corner, you just don’t see it; it’s 1% of players who can play at the highest level. Not everybody can play at that level and yes, there’s no guarantee that David could go on to play at the highest level, but in my opinion I feel that he had a good chance to play international cricket. Some people might say he has not done enough yet, but you can argue that he should at least be around the SA A squads at the very least and he hasn’t had an opportunity at that level. The reality is that we can’t keep pretending there is nothing wrong.’
Photo: Gallo Images
