Ed Moore made his Test debut for South Africa earlier this month - but he won’t be returning to Minster this summer.

Moore had already agreed to return to play in the Lancashire League for Todmorden Cricket Club before his unexpected call up to play for his country in the recent two-Test series against New Zealand.

He captained Minster during their promotion to the Kent Cricket League Premier Division and thanked the club for playing a part in his cricketing journey.

Moore said: “I spent three years at Minster which was awesome, a really good club and it’s been amazing for me in my journey and helped me in my development as a player as well.

“I was really fortunate for what they have done for my career but it felt like it was time to move on.”

Moore had previously played in Lancashire for Rochdale before making the switch to Kent and leading the club to the top flight. Minster challenged for the title in their first season at the highest level in the county.

He said: “It was awesome to be part of that team and in my first year we won promotion from the first division, got promoted to the Prem. I captained the team and came second and just fell short of winning the title but in the third year we fell pretty short, it just wasn’t our year.

“I chased that title hard and did my best to get the title but hopefully they will do it with the next pro!”

Moore felt his chance to play for his country had gone but the decision to prioritise the domestic T20 series rather than the Test matches against New Zealand opened up the door for a number of fringe players, including himself.

He opened the batting in the first Test and made 23 off 50 balls, including four boundaries, before the pace of former Kent bowler Matt Henry proved his undoing, a short-pitch ball was ballooned up to Devon Conway, who raced in from cover to take the catch.

Moore’s second stint at the crease ended with an eight-ball duck as Henry got him again, lofting a rash shot straight to cover.

South Africa opted to leave him out of the second Test but his dream of playing for his country has now been realised.

His call-up came after a successful domestic season in South Africa during the English winter, playing first-class cricket as opening batsman for Western Province.

“It was pretty decent,” he said. “It went pretty well, not only stats-wise but I felt I played some decent knocks to put my team into winning positions and feel like that matters more than actual stats, but stats wise it wasn’t too bad either, averaging around 51-52, scoring over 400 runs in the five games.”

Minster have arranged friendly matches at Belhus and Harold Wood for both 1st and 2nd teams during April before hosting Roffey at Gilbert Hall on April 20.

They entertain Linden Park on April 27 in the ECB National Club Championship and travel to Dartford for another friendly the week after before getting their 2024 Kent League Premier Division campaign started at Blackheath on Saturday, May 11. The two sides finished joint on points last season.