Eyeing Ashes selection, Kieswetter keeps his feet on ground

LONDON - Craig Kieswetter, who is all set to grab the ODI wicketkeeping opportunity from Matt Prior, has said that he has spent the last three and a half weeks since his man-of-the-match performance in the World Twenty20 final “slowly coming back down to earth”.

Kieswetter’s name is in the one-day squad to face Australia, Bangladesh and Scotland later this month.

“There are three formats and three steps I have to try to climb. I have been fortunate to play Twenty20 and a few ODIs as a batter. But if I do get the phone call, it’s a progression and I would be very excited about it,” said Kieswetter.

Still just 22, he is tipped to grab the ODI gloves from Matt Prior and, makes no bones about his ultimate ambitions, The Daily Express reports.

“The Ashes without a doubt. I haven’t had the opportunity yet in Test cricket, but hopefully I can put in some performances for Somerset and I would love to be on that plane for Australia. At the moment I’m not looking that far ahead,” he said.

Keeping his feet on the ground whilst negotiating a steep upward career curve has been not an easy task for Kieswetter, but he credits Somerset and Marcus Trescothick, in particular, for helping him keep things in perspective, The Daily Express reports.

“Tres is very much the gentle giant, big on family and giving back to the club and cricket,” he said.

“He’s also very big on keeping humble and doing the right things. So even if I get my chance in the ODIs, I’m at the right place here at Somerset.” (ANI)