England call for Kieswetter

In-form batsman rewarded following fine form for England Lions

Last updated: 21st February 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

England call for Kieswetter

Kieswetter: Starred for Lions

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Craig Kieswetter has been added to England's one-day squad for the upcoming tour of Bangladesh.

The in-form wicketkeeper-batsman has been called up following some impressive performances for England Lions recently.

The South African-born right-hander hit scores of 40 not out, 77no and 50 in the Twenty20 series against Pakistan A in the UAE.

He continued his fine form in a warm-up fixture against the full England side in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, making a top score of 81 to help the Lions to victory over the first team.

Hard work

"I've worked very hard over the course of the winter as part of the England Performance Programme (EPP) and have been especially pleased with my recent form on the England Lions tour to the UAE," Kieswetter said.

"I'm delighted to have been called into the One-Day Squad and am excited about the opportunity to tour Bangladesh with the England team."

The 22-year-old was born in South Africa and represented the Proteas at the Under-19 World Cup before moving to England. He only completed his qualification period on Tuesday.

His addition to the squad means Andy Flower will have a 16-man party to choose from in the three-match series against Bangladesh.

The opening one-dayer takes place in Dhaka next Sunday, live on Sky Sports 2.

Comments (26)

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Gary Noone says...

Keiswetter is class. A one day century in only his third game, pretty good if you ask me. Also noticed the other day, Paul Collingwoods top score is 120 in 350 odd, one dayers? Interesting?????

Posted 19:35 6th March 2010

Thabo Mkwananzi says...

SA cricketers coming for money is fine in my book. However, what i do find frustrating is the fact that they are naive to belive that they will be accepted. KP is realising it now, they will always be known as SA cricketers that wear the Lions.. They will never experience true acceptance!! KP was young when he said all those arrogant slurrs about his country of origin, but he knows where his bread is buttered and goes home regularly.. TROTT, KEISWETTER AND KP will always be Saffas in the eyes of the media and english cricketers!!

Posted 06:22 6th March 2010

Mike Kent says...

Anyone remember Kepler Wessels..?

Posted 08:54 4th March 2010

Buddy Deperis says...

These guys are fortunate enough to have a foot in each culture ... how say you if they had Dads/Mums from Oz & turned out against us in baggy greens ? Some of the media would remind us ~ after every over ~ they were really Bokkies in disguise ...OK so they are playing for the money ~ the Gowers, Bothams & Hussains of yore just aint around any more so let`s get the Ozzies with the best we`ve got & stop pressurising these boys about their origins.

Posted 08:58 27th February 2010

James Easley says...

I think the real issue is being lost here. The rules are clear on representing any country and he now qualifes....simple as that. The people at fault are the counties who are continuly bringing in over seas players on hyped up salaries rather then promoting grass roots players within the system in England. What happened to the Counties being the breeding ground for the English Cricket Team. Now its all about the Counties, money and running businesses!

Posted 00:18 26th February 2010

Samuel Mayer says...

The rules regarding overseas born players representing there chosen country, are the same for all the test playing nations.It's not as if theres an uneven playing field of any sought.If a player is a citizen of there particular country and they have lived there for a certain period of time, they are qualified to play for that country, its as simple as that.

Posted 16:29 25th February 2010

Gordon Heasman says...

Why not go all the way and call the England team 'South Africa 2nd XI'. In a few years time there won't be an English-born player in the team. Not that it really matters, the game has changed beyond all recognition and will eventually go the same way as tiddly-winks and shove-ha'penny.

Posted 21:49 24th February 2010

Wayne Spencer says...

Some of the comments here are ridiculous! All you are thinking about is that Kieswetter is PART SA! He was at Millfield for most of his years, and luckily for me, I had the pleasure of him playing for my local cricket club in Somerset for 2 years. He is half English and half SA, and I have known him for years and all he has wanted to do is play for England! Yes he played for SA 19's but only because he couldnt play for England, so who wouldnt play international cricket if they had the chance?! He is an amazing talent, and will be concrete for England in all versions of the game, and he will wear the England shirt with pride! He has worked hard to get where he is, and he has the attitude to always work harder! People should be happy that he choose to play for England not moaning

Posted 16:27 24th February 2010

James Hart says...

Have all of you forgotten he's half British, half South African and he chose to pay for England. He went to Millfield and has now realised he wants to play ffor England. I have a season ticket at Somerset and Kieswetter is absolutely quality. Him and Trescothick are the best opening partnership in County cricket. He should definately be in the England one day squads and probably the test team aswell. He is better than Trott and Prior anyway.

Posted 13:19 24th February 2010

Nigel Barriball says...

Great news with regard to Kieswetter and what a start to his international career. If the people moaning about why we are not picking 'an english man', why don't you vent your anger at the training dished out at our academies that we fail to produce regular true world class cricketers. There is no doubt that Foster is the best keeper in the country and he should keep wicket, but have we not got room to play Kieswetter as just a batsman? Trott and Denly are too negative and play for themselves. And I don't care who plays for England, as long as they wear the shirt with pride and bash the Aussies

Posted 12:09 24th February 2010

Jason Perry says...

I was a big cricket but not no more.Why dont England change there name to The Rest Of The World X1,i can see within 5 years no England crickter will be english born, its become a farce.

Posted 20:55 23rd February 2010

Vince Cox says...

Well, good news for Essex CC but, unless Foster is unavailable for selection, devastating for him. Just don't know what the man has to do

Posted 14:44 22nd February 2010

Tim Gould says...

i am amazed that yet again we have another south african fast - tracked into the england team!! as i ve said before any number of keepers could be holding the gloves for england at the moment,do we really need to choose another south african? time to make county system a little tighter and encourage our young players,not pay big bucks to overseas stars!

Posted 12:28 22nd February 2010

Stephen D says...

I love watching England play and I feel proud when they win; unfortunately there are now so many non Englishmen/Welshmen in the team there is non longer any sense of pride left for me. With KP, Trott, Morgan, now Keiswetter and possibly Lumb in the team how can it still be called the England team? They are not products of the English cricket system and shouldn't be allowed to wear the three lions. I'd rather we fielded 100% English/Welsh and lost every game than to win by using mercenaries. Shame on you ECB.

Posted 12:26 22nd February 2010

Josh B says...

I am one who believes England are defonitley making the right decision to pick Keiswetter, i may be slightly bias because i am from Somerset and have a season ticket but i also think Craig is one hell of a talent and if England did not pick him there would be more people arguing how he deserves a place. He is a player that loves the big occasion which is why he could be international class. With KP and Trott i think they play to prove SA wrong rather than for the england shirt, with Craig i think he will be playing for the shirt.

Posted 11:30 22nd February 2010

Tony Moss says...

Oh no.....this is a terrible move. Has nothing to do with his origin of birth, if those are the rules, those are the rules. My concern is his wicket keeping. No doubt he knows what he's doing with the bat but he can't keep wicket for toffee. I've seen plenty of him in the last couple of seasons and all I see is a loud mouth behind the stumps, talking for the sake of it and doing everything other than catch the flipping ball. He's average standing back, absolutely terrible standing up the stumps against spinners, and god help him against medium pace. Did anyone see Foster standing up to James Anderson, he's a 90mph bowler!! Picking this guy is a really bad cricketing decision.

Posted 11:18 22nd February 2010

Steve Wright says...

why not bring in lumb aswell and we can demote the england team to play on the a tours instead......what a joke..the only thing i will say is demote joe denley.being from kent i should support his cause,but his one day record is terrible at county level,and he's been picked for the wrong format,test matches his record is second to none,but robert key should be before him at the shorter level.england have done exactly the role reversal with johnatan trott.when he was more outstanding at the shorter format,where did they pick him..for the test arena.

Posted 10:16 22nd February 2010

Graham Jukes says...

Soon there will be two South African teams in world cricket.

Posted 05:53 22nd February 2010

Carl M says...

why do england need to pick south african born player we have very good english players so why no leave south africa to pick these players

Posted 03:11 22nd February 2010

Dominic Stevens says...

True hes a great cricketer, but really another south African, i seem to be loosing respect for my own country (ENG)

Posted 21:14 21st February 2010
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