No contract for Nortjé, but Nkwe confident of return

Ace fast bowler Anrich Nortjé “opted out of” a national contract with Cricket SA for the next 12 months, saying he wanted to focus on the T20 format for the rest of the year.

Nortjé 30, told Cricket SA director of cricket Enoch Nkwe that he wanted to work on his strength and conditioning after an extended period out of the game after he injured his lower back in September 2023. That injury saw him miss the World Cup and the rest of the home international summer.

He returned to full time play at the start of the month, turning out for his provincial team, the Warriors in three matches in the CSA T20 Challenge. After the birth of his and wife, Micaela’s first child last week, Nortjé went to India to fulfil his IPL obligations with the Delhi Capitals.

“He has not retired from Tests,” Nkwe said of Nortjé. “He opted out of a contract as he wants to manage his body. For now he wants to focus on T20s but we will reassess his position ... later this year.”

Nortjé has played 19 Tests and taken 70 wickets, and was a member, albeit briefly, of one of the most devastating fast bowling quartets of the modern era with Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi.

However, injuries and the Proteas limited Test schedule had left him asking questions about his long-term future in the red ball format.

“If everything goes according to plan, then after the [2024/25] season we can look at the way forward. He said he still wants to play Test cricket and we have respected his request. He will still be available for the T20 World Cup,” Nkwe said.

Nortjé, with Wayne Parnell, Sisanda Magala, Quinton de Kock and Keegan Petersen did not have their national contracts renewed, while Dean Elgar has retired. Cricket SA announced a list of 18 contracted men’s players, down from 20 in 2023.

Nkwe said De Kock’s retirement from Tests and ODIs precluded him from a contract. There has been specualtion that the T20 World Cup in June will be his swansong, but Nkwe wasn’t ruling out a return.

Nkwe said David Bedingham, who has made a century and two half-centuries in seven innings since making his debut against India on Boxing Day, was very close to earning a contract. “We have actually had lots of discussions about him. He is very strongly in our plans.”

Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi and Gerald Coetzee are the latest recipients of national contracts.