Kervezee signs for Worcestershire

[Kweek]

Rod Lyall
28 September 2006


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Seventeen-year-old Dutch international batsman Alexei Kervezee has signed with Worcestershire on a two-year contract, the County has announced.

Kervezee will start at Worcestershire’s Academy next year, after the World Cup. He’s fully committed until then, taking part in the ICC Winter Training Camp at Pretoria, the Dutch side’s visit to South Africa in November-December and the World Cricket League in Nairobi before the World Cup begins.

At New Road he will benefit from the attention of Worcestershire’s coaching staff, under the leadership of Director of Coaching Steve Rhodes and Academy Director Damian D’Oliveira, both former stalwarts for the county. Other coaches include batting specialist Gordon Lord, former county captain Ben Smith, and bowling coaches Ian Pont (who also works with the Dutch national squad) and Phil Newport.

Like the other academies in England and elsewhere, Worcestershire places a good deal of emphasis on the broader aspects of professional development, including fitness, nutrition, and career management.

Kervezee has experienced a meteoric rise since making his Hoofdklasse debut at the age of fifteen in 2005. He finished twelfth in the national averages that season, making 580 runs at 41.43, and immediately found himself in the Dutch side, where he hit 46 not out in an Intercontinental Cup match against Ireland.

His 2006 season in the Hoofdklasse was a little less remarkable, with 339 runs at 28.25, but his temperament made a great impression when he scored 47 on his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in July, and he hit a magnificent 152 against Scotland in the European Under-19 Championship.

Although he was not often called on to bowl for HBS this year, he took 16 wickets at an average of 12.75 with his medium pacers, and he could develop into a useful change allrounder.

Worcestershire Chief Executive Mark Newton was evidently delighted with the county’s new signing.

‘Alexei came over to trial with the club,’ he said, announcing the arrangement, ‘and I went to Amsterdam recently to meet with him and his family. We have agreed that he will spend the next two seasons with us where he will benefit from being part of the professional squad.

‘Dare we say that there are recollections of a young Graeme Hick in this arrangement!’

Compact and technically mature beyond his years, as a batsman Kervezee shares with many of his compatriots a tendency to get himself out with loose strokes. The coaches at Worcestershire will undoubtedly be keen to tighten up his technique – he certainly has the ability to succeed in cricket at the highest level.
source: cricketeurope4.net

good luck to Alexei at Worcs! hope he becomes a big one, and gets dutch cricket to the next level!

 

[Steulen]

Great news.

I saw him play against SL and was deply impressed by his technique. Not a big hitter, but he has all the shots at 17.

He, Kweek, he could have been your captain in India if he wasn't so good

 

[Perm]

This young man looks the good by all accounts, and at 17 I daresay he has a long and fruitful career infront of him. His batting statistics are quite impressive for such a young guy, yet to make a half century at First Class or List A level but you would think that one wouldn't be far away. Definately one for the future. Does anybody know if he played in the Under 19 WC? Not sure if the Netherlands were represented.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Excellent news.

He pretty much has to be a professional cricketer to survive.

 

[Pedro Delgado]

Good news for shure.

 

[Kweek]

Great news.

I saw him play against SL and was deply impressed by his technique. Not a big hitter, but he has all the shots at 17.

He, Kweek, he could have been your captain in India if he wasn't so good

don't think Kervezee is such a good captain, from personal experiances, a joker, but not a very fond talker in the field methinks

This young man looks the good by all accounts, and at 17 I daresay he has a long and fruitful career infront of him. His batting statistics are quite impressive for such a young guy, yet to make a half century at First Class or List A level but you would think that one wouldn't be far away. Definately one for the future. Does anybody know if he played in the Under 19 WC? Not sure if the Netherlands were represented.

nope, Holland wasnt at the U19 WC, its his(and maybe mine :o ) job to get us there next year

 

[Tomm NCCC]

Cool, this is the sort of thing which might make people take Dutch Cricket seriously

 

[AussieDominance]

WEll dont to Kervezee he is mature beyond his years and i hope he goes a long way!

 

[Retox]

‘Dare we say that there are recollections of a young Graeme Hick in this arrangement!’


So much pressure..

 

[Steulen]

If he fails, we'll just say he's from Namibia

 

[brockley]

Will worcester release him for rep games.

 

[Perm]

You'd like to think so brockley, I mean the guy is an up and coming young star of cricket in his country and should be given every chance to represent the Netherlands.

 

[marc71178]

Will worcester release him for rep games.

I think there's new rules in place so they have to (although being realistic about it, it'll be a couple of years before there's any conflict over his selection)

 

[AussieDominance]

well you never no as the world cup is coming up

 

[Magrat Garlick]

I think there's new rules in place so they have to (although being realistic about it, it'll be a couple of years before there's any conflict over his selection)

I dunno...Vikram Solanki usually bats three for Worcs, that implies everyone else is worse than him

 

[BoyBrumby]

Nice to see a young fella from a (no offence intended) lesser cricketing nation given a go at making a living out of the sport.
I do find it a little sad that if he does prove to be made of the right stuff he'll probably end up wanting to qualify for us rather than playing for The Netherlands. Joyce & Khan (Danish lad at Kent) have both gone the same way. I can understand why a player would wish to play at the highest level, but it doesn't help the development of the sport outside of the traditional Commonwealth power base in the long run.

 

[Kweek]

share the feelings BB it sort off sucks

 

[Neil Pickup]

well you never no as the world cup is coming up

Yes, Ritchie. The middle of March has always been a time that English clubs are desperate for players.

 

[marc71178]

well you never no as the world cup is coming up

And how exactly will the World Cup which finishes before the Engish season starts cause a conflict?

My point was more to do with the fact he won't get a game for a couple of years realistically, especially not now they've signed Moeen Ali.

 

[NZTailender]

Yes, Ritchie. The middle of March has always been a time that English clubs are desperate for players.

@ both there.