Kieswetter Signs Somerset Contract Extension

10 January 2012

Craig Kieswetter has secured his Somerset future for the next three seasons.

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Somerset and England wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter has agreed a new deal which will see him remain at the County Ground in Taunton until at least the end of the 2014 season.

“I have signed a two-year extension to the one year I had remaining on my contract so basically it’s a new three-year deal. I am delighted to extend my time at Somerset where I have been since I was 17 years old,” said the former South African Under-19 player.

“To have come over and be associated with Somerset with the way that they are developing and continually challenging for everything on the county circuit is something that I am proud of. I hold the club very dear to my heart and I want to be part of the success in the future so I am delighted and very humbled to extend my stay at the County Ground.”

Kieswetter moved to England from South Africa mid-way through the last decade and immediately attracted interest from both Kent and Somerset before making his first-class debut for the latter in 2007. He was awarded his county cap in 2009 and has scored over 6000 runs for their first eleven since then.

Somerset director of cricket Brian Rose added, “Craig has signed a new contract, which I am personally delighted about. He is showing his faith in Somerset CCC which is a great thing for us at his age, and it gives him another three years and great opportunity to further his England career.”

Kieswetter went on to reveal that he has received offers to play in Twenty20 competitions, including both the IPL and BPL, this winter but has declined them. He outlined the reasons for this, saying, “I have declined the opportunity to go and play in the Bangladesh Premier League and also the IPL, because I feel that the start of the season is a really critical time for Somerset as a club and for me as well.

“I have done quite a lot of travelling over these last few years and welcome the opportunity to spend a bit more time at home training and then to go out and put in some performances for Somerset early on in the season, to help the club to get results and also further my own international endeavours.”

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