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Rob Houwing, Sport24 chief writer
Cape Town – Former Proteas all-rounder Johan van der Wath has a problem: one elusive further international appearance.
Apparently that additional cap for his country will ensure he qualifies under altered UK immigration criteria to represent Northamptonshire in county cricket once more.
Van der Wath, 32, would like to return to Wantage Road in 2011 after being forced to quit the club because of a tightening of the visa laws.
He was quoted on BBC Radio on Tuesday as saying: “I’d like to come back again next season. The only way I can play is if I get one more international cap.”
The Eagles stalwart added optimistically: “I’ll play for South Africa and then I’m sure I’ll be back at Northants for a couple of years.”
Van der Wath presently has 10 one-day international caps and eight in Twenty20 internationals, although it is not clear in which format he needs to make up the further appearance.
He was popular at Northants last season because he took 50 wickets in the County Championship and is usually also a limited-overs factor because of his big-hitting ability.
But a South African recall seems pretty unlikely at this stage, as the Proteas are currently grooming two younger “bowling all-rounders” in Wayne Parnell and Ryan McLaren.
Parnell turns 21 in early August while McLaren is 27, still five years the seasoned Van der Wath’s junior.
Van der Wath took advantage last year of an amnesty from Cricket South Africa to return to the domestic fold after being ostracised for his role in the “rebel” Indian Cricket League Twenty20 competition.
He last played for the Proteas in September 2007, when the host nation crashed out of the inaugural World Twenty20 in Durban at the hands of India.
Cape Town – Former Proteas all-rounder Johan van der Wath has a problem: one elusive further international appearance.
Apparently that additional cap for his country will ensure he qualifies under altered UK immigration criteria to represent Northamptonshire in county cricket once more.
Van der Wath, 32, would like to return to Wantage Road in 2011 after being forced to quit the club because of a tightening of the visa laws.
He was quoted on BBC Radio on Tuesday as saying: “I’d like to come back again next season. The only way I can play is if I get one more international cap.”
The Eagles stalwart added optimistically: “I’ll play for South Africa and then I’m sure I’ll be back at Northants for a couple of years.”
Van der Wath presently has 10 one-day international caps and eight in Twenty20 internationals, although it is not clear in which format he needs to make up the further appearance.
He was popular at Northants last season because he took 50 wickets in the County Championship and is usually also a limited-overs factor because of his big-hitting ability.
But a South African recall seems pretty unlikely at this stage, as the Proteas are currently grooming two younger “bowling all-rounders” in Wayne Parnell and Ryan McLaren.
Parnell turns 21 in early August while McLaren is 27, still five years the seasoned Van der Wath’s junior.
Van der Wath took advantage last year of an amnesty from Cricket South Africa to return to the domestic fold after being ostracised for his role in the “rebel” Indian Cricket League Twenty20 competition.
He last played for the Proteas in September 2007, when the host nation crashed out of the inaugural World Twenty20 in Durban at the hands of India.
