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Cape Town - Proteas Test star Alviro Petersen’s switch of English county loyalty from Glamorgan to Essex in 2012 has caused a stir on Twitter.
The 31-year-old Lions stalwart confirmed this week that he had signed a short-term contract with Essex this season, enabling him to represent them for some two months ahead of South Africa’s three-Test tour of England in mid-year.
Petersen led Glamorgan last season and also scored more than 1000 first-class runs for them during a spell in the international wilderness.
But he has subsequently returned to favour at the top of the South African order with captain Graeme Smith, scoring a century in his “comeback” game against Sri Lanka at Newlands over the New Year.
He is also among the group of nationally-contracted players for 2012/13 announced by Cricket South Africa on Monday, and leaves shortly for the Test portion of the Proteas’ series in New Zealand.
Petersen’s county swap, however, has ruffled feathers, with even popular commentator and former England player and coach David Lloyd getting involved.
“Bumble” wrote on Twitter on Tuesday: “A Petersen seems to have manoeuvred a position for himself. Capt at Glamorgan, now he signs for Essex ... commitment ... loyalty???”
Meanwhile BBC Wales journalist Andrew Weeks tweeted: “This time last year, lots of love for @AlviroPetersen on Twitter and in Wales, now not so much.”
In a reply to Weeks, who he presumably knows, Petersen said: “Andrew, I know, that’s the world we live in! Still great supporters though!”
He also tweeted: “Happy that some team-mates at Glamorgan told me that I have made the right decision in my career and choice of county. #honestguys”
And a little earlier: “Just 2 put the record straight. I enjoyed my time with Glamorgan and yes, would have wanted it to continue ... my agent gave Glamorgan a proposal which they didn’t accept.”
Meanwhile the Petersen saga also earned prominence on the Cricinfo website, under a headline “Glamorgan anger at Petersen move”.
In the piece, the Welsh county’s Australian coach Matthew Mott claimed Glamorgan still hold a pre-contract agreement with Petersen that he would return to the county this season as a Kolpak player after “retiring from international cricket”.
He added: “We feel let down.”
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