From veldt to village green: South African cricketers on English grounds

This article examines South African professional cricketers’ motivations for coming to the UK to ply their trade. Our data covers fifteen years of migratory cricketers leaving South Africa for the northern hemisphere. Through numerous interviews, these migrants explain their reasons for leaving South Africa. The South Africans list numerous motivations for engaging in migration, which includes career opportunities, financial incentives, developing professional networks, and family safety, among others. Our focus in this article is on the perceived problems with the governance of South African cricket, and the economic differences and sporting conditions between South Africa and the United Kingdom.