Herschelle Gibbs has questioned David Bedingham’s omission from CSA’s group of contracted Proteas.
The 29-year-old Bedingham has made an excellent start to his Test career, scoring 347 runs at an average of 49.57, including a century and two fifties.
However, it wasn’t enough to earn him a CSA contract for the 2024-25 season.
“No national contract for the proteas most complete batsman,” former Proteas batsman Gibbs posted on X, with a facepalm emoji.
When someone responded, “Yet the Test captain [Temba Bavuma] chose to be on the sidelines during the SA20 while the national team struggled in New Zealand,” Gibbs replied: “Yep, disgraceful.”
And when asked why all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo “who doesn’t play much international cricket” gets a contract ahead of someone like Bedingham, Gibbs said, “We all know why”.
Another notable omission from the contracted group was fast bowler Anrich Nortje, who recently returned from injury after missing the ODI World Cup and SA20.
“He requested he wants to focus on T20 cricket for the next few months,” CSA director of cricket Enoch Nkwe told ESPNcricinfo when asked about Nortje. “He is not retiring from any internationals. He will avail himself for T20 internationals. Towards the end of the year, he will look to play ODIs again.”
Proteas contracted squad 2024-25: Temba Bavuma (Lions), Nandre Burger (WP), Gerald Coetzee (Titans), Tony de Zorzi (WP), Bjorn Fortuin (Lions), Reeza Hendricks (Lions), Marco Jansen (Warriors), Heinrich Klaasen (Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Titans), David Miller (Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Titans), Andile Phehlukwayo (Dolphins), Kagiso Rabada (Lions), Ryan Rickelton (Lions), Tabraiz Shamsi (Titans), Tristan Stubbs (Warriors), Rassie van der Dussen (Lions).
Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images