Devon Cricket Board - South Africa pick ex-Lewdown youngster

South Africa pick ex-Lewdown youngster

By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE
SOUTH Africa have called swing bowler Kyle Abbott into to their starting line-up for the third and final Test against Pakistan at Centurion starting today.
A hamstring injury ruled Morne Morkel out of the match and he will be replaced by Rory Kleinveldt, who has played three Tests for South Africa, in the starting eleven.
Abbott played Devon League cricket for Lewdown, then a D Division West club, during the 2006 season. He took 55 wickets at around seven runs each and averaged 85.5 with the bat.
Dolphins player Abbott was drafted in as cover in the squad after Lonwabo Tsotsobe was also ruled out through injury.
And when Jacques Kallis was ruled out due to injury yesterday (Thursday), Abbott was in.
Kallis sustained an injury to his right calf while bowling in the nets during the Proteas’ training session on Thursday morning.
Proteas Team Manager, Dr Mohammed Moosajee said: “ Jacques pulled up suddenly while practising his bowling in the nets yesterday morning, and upon assessment our physiotherapist Brandon Jackson diagnosed a calf strain. An MRI scan was subsequently performed, which confirmed the diagnosis to be a Grade 1 strain to his right calf.
“He will need a recovery period of two to three week to regain full fitness.”
"Kyle has done extremely well in the Sunfoil Series this season. He had an outstanding match return of 12-96 against the champion Cape Cobras and finished the series as the leading wicket-taker (49) and with the second best average (15.36),” Cricket South Africa selection convener Andrew Hudson said
“He swings the ball nicely and is another player who has earned a call-up through outstanding form at franchise level.”
The 25 year-old has played 37 first-class matches, and took seven wickets for the South Africa Invitational XI that played against Pakistan in January.
Charlie Hughes, Lewdown’s long-serving captain and coach, said Abbott was a last-minute replacement for another player and it was soon clear he was something special.
“We had an Aussie lined up to play for us, but a month before the season started he dropped out and we were offered Kyle through an agent,” said Hughes.
“He was only 18 when he came to us and we soon realised he had something about him.
“As a bowler he was in a different class, and as a batsman he could put the ball pretty well wherever he wanted.
“He had a couple of other offers, but the fact it was our centenary season and we had a game at Lord’s lined up helped swing it.”
“That season he played a few games for Somerset 2nd XI – and the following year he played in Somerset for Clevedon to keep the link going.
“Thanks to things like Facebook have been able to keep in touch with him and pass on our congratulations when he does well.
South Africa, the top-ranked Test side in the world, lead the three-match series 2-0 after a four-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second match in Cape Town on Sunday.
Abbott is one of two former Devon League players in the South African side as Vernon Philander had half a season at Budleigh Salterton in 2004 before being forced home early due to injury.
The Devon League has been a breeding ground for future Test players over the years with Adam Parore (Barton), Roger Twose (Paignton), Stuart MacGill (Heathcoat), J P Duminy (Exmouth), Fanie de Villiers (Torquay), Naveed Anjum (Barton), John Childs (South Devon) and Paignton’s Chris Read among those to grace the international arena.

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