South African-born Devon Conway is on the verge of a New Zealand debut but says the quota system had nothing to do with his decision to move. 

Conway last played in South Africa just over  three years ago, scoring 205 in his final game, for the Lions. The day after that excellent innings he and partner Kim, decided to try and build a new life in New Zealand.

Conway, 29, speaking to Mark Geenty of stuff.co.nz said he had he had a moment just before landing that he thought: ‘What have I done?’. However, with the assistance of Joburg-born cricketer Malcolm Nofal, Conway soon settled.

Many white Saffa cricketers cite the quota system as the reason they move abroad. Conway is not one of them. ‘I didn’t quite knock the doors down when I was playing. It was my own fault, really,’ he said.

He has done just that during his time in New Zealand. Conway has been the leading run scorer in first-class cricket for three seasons running. He was also the top scorer in white ball cricket last season.

There has been an outcry at his omission from the Test squad to face the West Indies in December.

One of the country’s most respected cricket writers, Ian Anderson of stuff.co.za, wrote of Conway’s omission: ‘A massive missed chance before the first ball had even been bowled. That’s what it felt like when Devon Conway was omitted from the Black Caps squad for the test series against the West Indies.

‘The South African-born left-hander, who garners runs like Keith Quinn collects outraged Twitter replies, was left out of the NZ squad for the two tests against the visitors in December, despite clearly being the best batsman in this year’s Plunket Shield.’

Conway got his residency visa recently, and was immediately handed a New Zealand contract.

Read the full story here : https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/black-caps/123430352/what-have-i-done-new-black-cap-devon-conway-on-the-day-he-sold-everything-and-moved-to-nz

Devon Conway for Wellington Firebirds (debut 2017-18):

Plunket Shield: 21 matches, 2008 runs at 69.24, 7×50, 5×100, HS 324no

Ford Trophy (50-over): 29 matches, 1227 runs at 47.19, 10×50, 2×100, HS 138

T20 Super Smash: 27 matches, 1071 runs at 53.55, 6×50, 2×100, HS 105no