Read full biographyClose biography
A South African run-machine, David Bedingham is a professional cricketer who plays Test cricket for the Proteas and represents Durham in the County Championship. The former Cape Cobras batter Bedingham ended a burgeoning career with the Cobras before the start of 2020, instead opting for a contract with Durham in county cricket. He made his first-class debut in March 2013 and rose through the ranks to become one of the clinical batters to ever play in the South African domestic circuit. Bedingham had the third-highest average in the 2019-20 4-Day Domestic Series, and his final four innings for the Cobras averaged a whopping 211, admittedly boosted by two not-outs. The 27-year-old's career-best innings came against Derbyshire in the 2021 County Championship. He struck a superb knock of 257 runs, which became the second-highest individual total achieved by a Durham batter, which is only behind Australian Martin Love's 273 for Durham against Hampshire in 2003. By mid-2021, David Bedingham had emerged as one of the most prolific batters in English county cricket—a South African by birth, but a Durham hero by performance. In April that year, he played a masterclass innings of 257 against Derbyshire, marking his maiden double century in first-class cricket. The following year, 2022, was a test of his consistency and resilience. He kicked off with a measured 76 against Glamorgan and followed it with a majestic 191 against Leicestershire, reaffirming his reputation as one of the most dependable top-order batters in the county circuit. One of the year’s most memorable moments came when he partnered with Ben Stokes for a 220-run stand, during which he contributed 135. Yet, it wasn’t a season without setbacks. A back injury, compounded by a later shoulder knock while fielding, forced Bedingham to miss crucial games towards the end of the season, temporarily halting his momentum. But 2023 proved to be a redemptive arc. Returning to Durham’s lineup with renew
