Published: 22/02/2010 13:10:54 | Modified: 22/02/2010 13:18:09
Author: Richard Latham | All Contributors
Rose predicts rapid rise for Kieswetter
Somerset director of cricket Brian Rose is predicting that Craig Kieswetter’s meteoric rise towards full England status will prove to be no flash in the pan.
The 22-year-old wicketkeeper, from Johannesburg, only qualified as an England player last week. But he has been such a success on the Lions tour of the UAE that he has just been called up to the full England one-day squad for the trip to Bangladesh.
Rose has watched Kieswetter’s progress with keen interest since he was first recommended to Somerset as an 18-year-old at Millfield School.
"I decided to sign Craig after watching him bat for two balls,” said former England batsman Rose. "It struck me immediately that he was something very special.
“He could hit the ball really well, but also he had the confidence at an early age to determine exactly where he wanted to go.
"In the last two or three years he has been moulded by Somerset, benefitting from the example of players like Marcus Trascothick and Justin Langer, and his performance graphs have gone steadily upwards in terms of his fitness and his lifestyle.
“Craig has also taken himself from an average wicketkeeper to someone well above that level, so he has done all the right things to get to where he is going.
"His success on the Lions tour has not taken me by surprise at all. I knew he would do big things and I fully expect him to force his way into the England squad for the ICC World Twenty20 in May."
Kieswetter himself said: "I've worked very hard over the course of the winter as part of the England Performance Programme and have been especially pleased with my recent form on the Lions tour.
“I'm delighted to have been called into the England one-day squad and feel very excited about the opportunity to tour Bangladesh."
England's national selector, Geoff Miller, added: "Craig has impressed both the EPP and national coaches with his attitude, glovework and hard-hitting batting during the course of his time with the England Performance Programme."
Although the tour of Bangladesh doesn't include any Twenty20 matches, the decision to involve him suggests Kieswetter is clearly in the selectors' minds for the ICC World Twenty20 tournament in the West Indies.