Craig Kieswetter has announced himself in a big way since he qualified for England last week.
Firstly, he scored 81 to help the Lions beat the senior side in a T20 warm-up in Dubai. That got him a swift elevation to the senior squad for the ODI series in Bangladesh, although no doubt Joe Denly's poor form and Jonathan Trott's bizarre 39 off 51 balls in the second T20 against Pakistan helped as well.
Then today he scores 143 in England's first 50 over warm-up in Fatullah against a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI to all but cement his place in the side for the first ODI on Saturday. At last and for the first time since Marcus Trescothick and Nick Knight were at the top of the order, England will have an opening limited overs batsman capable of hitting over the top and taking advantage of the powerplays. It is about time.
Yes, Kieswetter is South African but he has proved his allegience firstly with his talent and secondly by the fact that he knocked back Graeme Smith when the Proteas captain suggested that the Somerset wicketkeeper should come back to the South African fold.
His wicketkeeping still needs some work by all accounts, but Matt Prior will be sweating on his test place in the not so distant future.
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