Marchant de Lange, the former South Africa fast bowler, has left Glamorgan to join Somerset as an overseas player on a two-year contract.
De Lange, who recently turned 30, had spent four seasons at Glamorgan as a UK-registered player, thanks to a spousal visa. However, that arrangement will no longer stand post-Brexit, and his contract was terminated by mutual consent.
However, he remains capable of clocking regular speeds in excess of 90mph, and has been signed by Somerset as a replacement for their quickest bowler, Jamie Overton, who left the club midway through the 2020 season to join Surrey.
“It is a huge privilege for me to be joining Somerset and I can’t wait to start my journey with such an ambitious and proud club,” de Lange said. “I am very excited of the prospect of being part of a formidable team and striving towards winning multiple competitions and silverware.
“It is very noticeable how well supported the club is and I am really looking forward to meeting the members and supporters hopefully on their safe return in 2021.”
De Lange made a swift impression in Test cricket, claiming 7 for 81 on debut against Sri Lanka at Durban in 2011-12. However, he played just one more Test after that, against New Zealand in Wellington three months later, and a total of 12 appearances across all formats before making the switch to county cricket in 2017.
In his four seasons with Glamorgan, de Lange claimed 85 wickets at 33.7 in first-class cricket, as well as 39 at 26.8 in List A, and 36 at 23.7 in T20. However, his most notable achievement was arguably a 62-ball hundred against Northants in this year’s Bob Willis Trophy, the fastest first-class hundred in the club’s history.
“I’m incredibly sad to be leaving Glamorgan and Sophia Gardens,” de Lange said. “I have such fond memories of my time here, and I have thoroughly enjoyed representing the people of Glamorgan and Wales.”
Glamorgan director of cricket Mark Wallace added: “The change in regulations has altered the category that he is able to play under, and it is unfortunate that Marchant is a victim of these changes.
“He has always given the club 100% of his efforts and he’s been an incredibly popular member of the side and a favourite of the staff around Sophia Gardens, so we wish him all the best.”
Andy Hurry, Somerset’s director of cricket, added that de Lange “will no doubt add real value, a different dimension to an already potent bowling attack and demonstrates our intent to continue to strive to winning silverware.”
“Marchant’s skill, experience and ability to bowl at express pace will complement our bowling group perfectly,” Hurry said. “He has the proven ability to take wickets and positively change and influence games across all formats and I believe he will be a great fit for our environment.”
Source: ESPN Crickinfo