Kieswetter aims high

Craig Kieswetter on duty for Somerset © Getty Images

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Somerset wicket-keeper batsman Craig Kieswetter has pinpointed a long-term goal - to play for England - but for the time being, however, he is just delighted to be involved with the Skill Set Programme in Loughborough.

The South African born 'keeper started the 2007 season in Somerset’s second team but he got his first-team chance in April 2007 and hit 69 not out off 58 balls against Glamorgan.

He also impressed with his tidy glovework and retained his place throughout the county’s title winning campaign in Division Two of the LV County Championship.

Despite playing for South Africa in the Under-19 World Cup in 2005-06 Kieswetter has decided to qualify for England after attending the famous nurturing ground for sporting talent that is Millfield School.

He played in 16 four-day matches and made 377 runs at an average of 29, with a highest score of 93 and claimed 46 victims during the 2007 season.

Kieswetter was pleasantly surprised by his Skill Set selection and told Somerset CCC: "This is a huge step for me as far as my cricket development is concerned.

Kieswetter has made an impressive start at Somerset

"I have come from South Africa and I want to make it in first-class cricket and eventually go on and play for England.

"This was a huge confidence boost, but I have to say that I was a bit surprised to get invited after just one season in the game over here.

"I am very grateful to have been given this opportunity and thrilled to think that I have been noticed by people at the ECB National Academy, so I just have to keep on plugging away and see how things go.

"I will be going up to attend another skill set session this coming weekend after which there are a further two in November before I go out to spend some time at a spin camp in India just before Christmas.

"The facilities up at the academy are incredible and it was a fantastic experience for me to be up there. It is quite amazing what tips you can pick up in only five days in a place like that.

"I have learnt a lot of drills and also a lot of the aspects of my game that I need to work upon so I shall work hard to try to keep on improving.

"I have got several more sessions still to go, the first of which will be this weekend.

"Whilst I was up at the academy I spent a lot of my time working with Bruce French (Nottinghamshire and England) and Simon Guy from Yorkshire."

After Christmas, Kieswetter will be out in South Africa working with former Somerset and South Africa batsman Jimmy Cook in Johannesburg, where he will also be playing cricket for two months.