Glamorgan chief executive Hugh Morris has admitted Aneurin Donald has left the county because he wants to play for England.

Hampshire announced on Monday they had signed the hugely promising 21-year-old batsman on a two-year deal. He has also made the switch for the rest of this season on loan.

It’s a huge blow for Glamorgan, for the motivation for which Morris has conceded is Donald’s ambition to play Test cricket.

The last Glamorgan player to manage that was fast bowler Simon Jones – 13 years ago.

The last batsman from the county to play Test cricket for England was Steve James way back in 1998.

Morris – himself a former England batsman back in 1991 – said: “Money was not the issue as far as we have been made aware. We offered a long term contract, so we don’t believe that’s the case.

“Aneurin’s stated ambition is to try and play for England. He believes his route there is via the south coast.

“We have had players from Glamorgan who have played for England before. I believe we are a club that is really trying to invest in our talent and it’s very disappointing to lose somebody who is a product of our system.”

Donald burst onto the county scene when he made his Glamorgan debut at the age of 17 in 2014. His talent was clearly underlined when he made an astonishing 234 off 136 balls against Derbyshire two years ago, equalling the fastest double century in first-class cricket.

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Since then his progress has slowed, but he is still averaging over 30 and even though he has been left out of the county’s Championship side at times this season he has still been a mainstay in T20.

Now, his departure has echoes of two other Welsh youngsters who left Sophia Gardens – James Harris in 2013 and Tom Maynard who moved to Surrey in 2011.

Morris added: “We are really disappointed. We offered Aneurin a new three-year contract, but he has decided to leave for Hampshire.

“He made his debut for Glamorgan at the age of 17 having come through out pathway programme. We have invested a lot of time and effort in him so it’s disappointing he has chosen to move down to the south coast.”

Glamorgan have become a struggling side in all formats this season, although they did enjoy a purple patch in the middle of their T20 Blast campaign which took them close to the knockout stages.

In Division Two of the County Championship, they are rock bottom and if there was a division three they would be heading for it after just one win in nine games.

It appears to be the realisation that England selectors do not often pick batsmen from struggling division two teams that has prompted Donald to move.

But Morris insists Glamorgan’s policy of trying to rely on a core of Welsh players, despite the lack of success, is the right one for the future.

He added: “We are struggling in the Championship this year. That’s clear for all to see.

“We have played 10 young Welsh lads this year and it’s really difficult for them without some pillars of experience in the side. We have had our injury problems this year, but that’s no excuse.

“We have to stick with it. We have a strategy that we want to take forward. Some of the young players are struggling but we will continue to support them.”