Wednesday 2 July 2014 17:49, UK
Wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter has signed a new three-year contract with Somerset that keeps him at Taunton until the end of the 2017 season.
Kieswetter first played for the club back in 2006 and has become a key member of the team and a regular member of the England limited overs squads.
Since 2007 he has scored almost 5000 first class runs, including eight centuries, over 2,800 in List A cricket and more than 2100 in T20.
For the last few years he has been locked in battle for the gloves with Jos Buttler, but Buttler's departure to Lancashire over the winter made Kieswetter the undisputed first-choice gloveman at the club.
Kieswetter said: “I am absolutely over the moon for this opportunity to be able to commit myself further to SCCC.
“From the very beginning of my career the club has helped and guided me to achieve levels of performance I am proud of. Throughout every corner of the county there are people passionate about the club, and so to be able to be part of something that has such a loyal following it's extremely humbling.
“I have had plenty of ups and downs throughout my professional and international career, but there is always one factor that remains a complete positive for me - and that is being part of this club.
Throughout every corner of the county there are people passionate about the club, and so to be able to be part of something that has such a loyal following it's extremely humbling.
“I love playing for Somerset. It's my home and I am so excited about the next three years. I believe there is a lot exciting talent coming through and I'm looking forward to helping develop the personnel and the club to even higher success. We are Somerset.”
Dave Nosworthy, Somerset’s Director of Cricket said: “With the amount of ability and the track record that Craig has, any team would be delighted to have signed him - and so naturally so are we.
“Craig is one of the more naturally talented players around who has the ability to turn a game on its head, both with bat in hand and with the gloves.
“He is a natural striker of the ball who in my mind still has much more ability which we have not yet even seen. He is a quality wicket keeper with added agility, and is also a member of the team who shows some leadership traits.
“The new deal is good news for the club and I am sure that like us he will be very pleased to be able to continue his prolific career here at the County Ground."
