There have been some impressive performances by our Prospective England XI over the last few weeks, but after a perfectly-paced hundred against Gloucestershire in yesterday’s televised CB40 clash Craig Kiewswetter is undoubtedly the man of the moment.
Kieswetter’s 108 from just 102 balls followed hot on the heels of a brisk 117 in the County Championship match against Worcester and a brutal 95 in Somerset’s previous 40-over match, against Glamorgan. This run of form has once again put the 23-year-old keeper-batsman in the frame for a starting berth in England’s limited-overs sides, while it may have also elevated him above Steve Davies as England’s second-choice Test keeper.
Since starring for England on the slow, flat wickets during last year’s World T20, Kieswetter’s stock – at international level at least – has fallen. Struggling in less batsman-friendly conditions, he has been bowled five times in just 12 ODI innings, and failed to come to terms with the extra pace of Australia’s bowlers in last summer’s one-day series.
Like Virender Sehwag he has, historically, preferred to stay legside of the ball – an approach that allows him to crash the ball through the covers, but also one that makes him vulnerable to full straight deliveries – especially when the ball is nibbling around.
On this season’s evidence Kieswetter has not fundamentally changed his technique outside off stump – anyone who saw him crash a six point yesterday will testify to that – but when the ball is on the stumps, a more compact method is allowing a naturally free-scoring player to accumulate on the legside as well as reducing the risk of playing away from his body.
With immense power and ambition, scoring quickly will never be a problem for the South Africa-born youngster, and now it appears he has found a greater degree of consistency to go with his natural ability.
In short, he is a natural fit for the England as they look to start afresh post-World Cup and post-Andrew Strauss, although with Davies and Somerset teammate Jos Buttler (not to mention Matt Prior) also in the running to take the limited-overs gloves this summer, Kieswetter must continue the prolific start to the season (294 runs at 42 in the Championship, 308 runs @ 154 in the CB40) if he is to demand selection.
It will, however, be a shock if he does not at least feature in Stuart Broad’s T20 side at some point in 2011, and in the shortest format of the game, at least, it is arguable that he merits a place in the side for his batting alone.
One thing’s for sure, Kieswetter is not a player who lacks confidence. In fact his batting exudes it. The question is, will England’s selectors have similar faith in this exciting player’s abilities?
