South African cricketer David Bedingham has made headlines with his impressive performance in the County Championship Division One, where he has accumulated 926 runs in 14 matches for Durham, averaging a remarkable 71.23. Despite being the tournament’s leading run-scorer, Bedingham has largely remained out of the spotlight, overshadowed by the presence of Ben Stokes.
Bedingham, who hails from George, South Africa, expressed his desire to obtain a UK passport, allowing him to play as a local player. In the past, he harbored ambitions of representing England in international cricket. However, he now recognizes that such aspirations may not be feasible, emphasizing his commitment to playing for South Africa.
“The plan was always to get a UK passport, and I’m still trying to do that. I think that could happen in two years’ time. It would be silly for me to think of playing for a country that I’m not qualified for,” Bedingham stated in an interview with Cricbuzz. He acknowledged that had he spent six or seven years playing exclusively in England, the prospect of qualifying for the England team might have been realistic. Instead, he remains focused on his goal of contributing to South Africa’s cricketing success.
Bedingham is poised to play a crucial role in the upcoming series against the West Indies, especially in the absence of Dean Elgar, who has recently retired. His performance in a warm-up match against Champs XI, where he scored 74 runs, has positioned him as a potential standout in South Africa’s red-ball cricket future.
As Bedingham continues to excel in domestic cricket, he aims to solidify his place as a key player for both Western Province and the South African national team.
