Kieswetter reveals England ambition

1 July 2008

Craig Kieswetter goes aerial on his way to 67 against South Africa at Taunton

Craig Kieswetter has set his sights on playing Test cricket for England after top-scoring for Somerset in the tour game against his native South Africa at Taunton.

Kieswetter, who hit 67 off 111 balls, captained the Proteas at Under-17 level and played for them in the 2006 Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka.

But then the 20-year-old moved to England and went to Millfield School, played for Somerset Seconds in 2006 and earned a professional contract at the end of that season.

He will be qualified to play for England in another 18 months and admits playing in a Test match for his adopted country will be “the ultimate aim”.

Kieswetter, who holds a British passport, said: “For a young cricketer, to play against any Test match side is a great thrill but to play against the country of your birth is something very special.

“This game has extra meaning for me, trying to show South Africa what they have lost, what could have been but my expression is to play for England.

“If anyone had told me when I played my first match for Somerset Seconds two years ago, that I would be playing for them against South Africa in 2008, then I would have laughed in their face.

“For me this is a real thrill to play against people like Mark Boucher, who was a hero of mine when I was growing up back in Cape Town. To get runs against them means a lot to me.

“I played for South Africa in the Under-19 World Cup in 2006 and since then my game has improved considerably, both my wicketkeeping and batting.

“Now I will be qualified for England in another 18 months and to play Test cricket for them is my ultimate aim.”

Morne Morkel took three wickets as Somerset were dismissed for 249 - 266 in arrears - but the tourists did not enforce the follow-on as they reached 56 for one by the close in their second innings.