Abbott: no to Proteas for now

A return to the Proteas is not on fast bowler Kyle Abbott’s radar right now, but the former Kolpak star said yesterday that he always keeps an eye on South African cricket.

That is exactly why he believes the domestic restructuring that will do away with the six franchises, is exactly what the game here needs.

Abbott ( below) this week joined the Titans until the end of the season, the expiration of the Kolpak system meaning he is once again available to South African teams as a domestic player.

The 33-year-old, who played 60 matches for the Proteas across all three formats, was previously a stalwart for the Dolphins, turning out 122 times for the franchise.

But after Covid travel restrictions wrecked his 2020 plans – he did not play a single game for Hampshire, his English county side who have signed him as an overseas player for another two years – Abbott says his focus is on regaining his best form with the Titans.

“At the moment the Proteas are not in my immediate view, after a very tough 2020 when I basically didn’t play. I just want to get back into the space I was in 18 months ago, It’s quite difficult because the body had a nice rest, so I lost that competitive edge. After such a long layoff I need an environment that is going to be hard, I need to be outside my comfort zone,” he said.

“But South Africa and the Proteas are still very close to my heart and I’ve always got my eye on them. It seems everyone is now incredibly happy in that environment, which is great to hear. And the change to 15 teams and two divisions in domestic cricket is exactly what South African cricket needs right now. That’s how the first-class game works in the UK and it is the strongest in the world. To have that number of teams playing every week can only strengthen the game.”