Claremont Cricket Club have lost the services of Nottinghamshire batsman Billy Root for the remainder of the 2016-17 Western Province Cricket Association premier league.
Root was unable to secure a visa extension – and returned to the United Kingdom earlier this month.
The brother of England international Joe Root, the 24-year-old left-hander endured a string of single-figure scores in the firt half of the WPCA premier league season.
While a solid 42 against Rondebosch Cricket Club impressed, four and one against Durbanville Cricket Club and five and nine versus the University of the Western Cape Cricket Club – and other dissaponting innings – epitomised his poor form.
Root’s departure effectively opens the door for the Zimbabwean-born Nick Welch’s promotion to Claremont Cricket Club’s premier league XI.
Welch has enjoyed an impressive stretch of performances in the reserve A league – and will push for selection ahead of 21 and 28 January’s key WPCA premier league fixture against Cape Town Cricket Club at the Boon Wallace Oval.
Hosts Cape Town Cricket Club currently occupy fourth position in the 10-team WPCA premier league standings, after two wins and one draw in four matches, while visitors Claremont Cricket Club are sixth, in the wake of two defeats and one draw in four fixtures.