England may stop picking South Africa born players to protect ‘Englishness’ of team

LONDON - To protect the identity of the England team, Chief selector Geoff Miller has warned that they may stop picking South African-raised players.

Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen batting three and four in the current Test series against the Proteas are South Africa-born players.

Now Somerset’s Johannesburg-born wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter has been chosen for next month’s England Lions one-day tour to Dubai.

Many fans are concerned that the essential ‘Englishness’ of the team is being diluted because so many players speak with a South African accent, The Sun reports.

Miller, who heads a selection panel that also includes Ashley Giles, James Whitaker and Andy Flower, shares the worries.

“Yes, we have to be careful. I wouldn’t say Craig will be the last but we will monitor the situation. Picking these players mirrors our nation, we’re a multi-cultural nation and Craig has passed all the criteria required to be an English cricketer,” Miller said.

Trott and Kieswetter both played for South Africa Under-19s while Pietersen played against England for Kwazulu Natal in 1999.

Captain Andrew Strauss and wicket-keeper Matt Prior were also both born in South Africa. But they left the country with their families when they were three and 12 and learned most of their cricket in England. (ANI)