Abbott’s Test career over as Hampshire move is confirmed

Kyle Abbott’s international career has effectively been ended following the second Test against Sri Lanka after talks with Cricket South Africa failed to dissuade him from accepting a Kolpak deal with Hampshire.

ESPNcricinfo broke the news of Abbott’s signing on Tuesday, of which CSA had no knowledge. The board has spent the last two days in meetings with Abbott’s agent, Weber van Wyk, but they were unable to come to any arrangement that will convince Abbott to stay in South Africa, and his contract has been terminated with immediate effect. It was also confirmed that batsman Rilee Rossouw will be joining Abbott at Hampshire , also on a Kolpak deal.

“It has been one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make but it is the right decision for me,” Abbott said after the second Test concluded. “There have been a few evenings where I have gone to sleep wondering if I made the right decision and woken up in the morning knowing I have. The last few months [since I made the decision], it’s about playing with the weight off my shoulders. In the last few months, I have never felt far away from being dropped. I’ve now played thinking if I do, it doesn’t matter. I am really enjoying it. If I wasn’t committed to South African cricket, I would have done this a long time ago.

“February would be four years since my international debut. Ever since I played in South Africa, at every level, there has always been a quota system. I have never used it as an excuse and I won’t now. I need to pay bills, I need to buy groceries.”

Faf du Plessis, South …

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