Ed Moore spent the English summer playing Kent League Cricket for Minster – but has now earned himself a spot in the South African Test squad.
Moore has been added to the Proteas line-up for their two-match Test series in New Zealand and will be flying out tomorrow (Friday) for a chance of a lifetime where he says he hopes to take his career to new heights.
The 30-year-old has spent the last three summers over in England with Minster as their overseas star, captaining them to second place in the Kent Premier Division in 2022, while continuing to spend the other half of the year back playing in his native South Africa, enjoying a successful domestic season in 2023 as opener for Western Province.
Moore scored 414 runs in Division 1 of the South African 4-Day Series at an average of 51.75, including two centuries.
South Africa’s nationally contracted players are missing the tour of New Zealand as it clashes with the nation’s T20 League, which the national governing body insists takes precedence over their international fixtures. The SA20 is seen as crucial to the finances of the organisation.
It means that Moore and other players normally on, or even below, the fringes have got their chance to show what they can do on the international stage.
“I am super, super excited!” said the left-hander before joining up with the squad. “I didn’t expect the call to be honest. A few years ago I had a really good domestic season in South Africa where I thought the call might have been close, but they always say you get those calls when you least expect it and that really is the case.
“I need to embrace the opportunity and hopefully I can have a decent start, if I am selected for the first XI, and take my career to new heights.”
Moore, with no previous Test experience, has played 117 first-class matches, amassing nearly 8,000 runs, including 17 hundreds and a career-best of 228.
His best innings last season in Kent came with an unbeaten 132 off just 48 balls in a Conference Cup game, with his best knock for Minster seeing him smash 155 in a game during the club’s march to the Kent Division 1 title in 2021.
“It will be a little different, to that,” he joked. “Not only in conditions but opposition as well I reckon!
“It is a nice little challenge and opportunity and I am pretty sure it will bring the best out of me.
“I have had a really good time with friends and family over the festive period in Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape, I am feeling refreshed and ready to go.
“There will be enough time to prepare pretty well and there is also a warm-up game coming up so time to get my physical skills as well as the mental side right in order to perform.”
Moore flies out on Friday ahead of the first Test on February 3 (10pm UK time) and the second match nine days later. Getting into the XI will be his first challenge and then he hopes he’ll get the chance to impress against the New Zealand bowling attack.
He said: “That is really exciting and something I have dreamt of for a long time, to go to a country like New Zealand will be very special, they have got a quality team and it will be nice to measure your skill level and mental strength against the best in the world, that in itself is exciting, let alone representing your country, it really is a dream come true.”
Moore has received plenty of support back in the UK. Prior to his spell with Sheppey side Minster he played cricket with Rochdale in the Lancashire League.
He said: “I was amazed how many people still follow my journey and support me, that was really good to know, it is incredible, not only at Minster but the other clubs I have played at in the UK.
“Locally as well in South Africa I have an incredible support structure and I am really fortunate to have these people on my side.
“I will throw everything in that I possibly have to put on a good show and put in some decent performances if I do get a chance. The next goal is to get into the XI and then hopefully I get my break, get my chance and I can show my worth.”
