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01-Sep-2010 02:58:00 GMT
Pakistan in England, 2010

Kieswetter to Play as Batsman Only in Pakistan T20s

Taunton: England World Twenty20 winning wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter is set to play as a batsman only in the upcoming two T20s against Pakistan, it was announced on Tuesday.

Kieswetter was one of the stars in England's World Twenty20 winning campaign in the Caribbean earlier this year where he both opened the innings and kept wicket.

But the South Africa born Kieswetter struggled for runs when asked to open the innings during England's mid-season one-day internationals against Australia and Bangladesh.

Now, Surrey's Steven Davies is set to keep wicket in both the two Twenty20s in Cardiff on Sunday and Tuesday and the subsequent five one-dayers while Kieswetter has been dropped from the one-day squad entirely.

Kieswetter had replaced Test gloveman Matt Prior in both limited overs formats this season.

But England national selector Geoff Miller said: "Steven Davies has had an excellent year for Surrey this season and has earned his chance to take on the role as wicketkeeper in England's limited-overs set-up.

As ever, the wicketkeeper's role is a fiercely-contested position in the England team, and we've no doubt Craig Kieswetter will continue to press for the chance to reclaim his place in the England ODI squad.

Kieswetter will get an early chance to show his worth in the 50-over format after being selected for county side Somerset in their one-day tour match against Pakistan at Taunton on Thursday.

However, the match itself has been overshadowed by 'spot-fixing' allegations levelled against Pakistan by Britain's News of the World newspaper on Sunday.

The tabloid paper, which conducted a 'sting' operation, claimed Pakistan's Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif bowled no-balls to order at the behest of a 'fixer' during last week's fourth Test at Lord's.

England won that match, and with it the series 3-1, after an innings and 225-run victory -- Pakistan's heaviest Test defeat of all-time.


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