Cricket Round-Up: Kieswetter boosts chances of England Test recall

Bowler of the Day: Adam Riley (Getty)

Batsman of the Day

Craig Kieswetter’s chances of forcing his way back into the England reckoning will not have been harmed by another demonstration of his ability to score explosive runs in Somerset’s Twenty20 game with Surrey at Taunton, although his 61 off 47 balls, with seven fours and a six, was not enough to get his side across the line as Surrey defended their 173 for 7 to win by 14 runs.

Kieswetter, last season’s leading scorer in the domestic short-format competition, had fallen behind Matt Prior, Jonny Bairstow and former Somerset team-mate Jos Buttler in the pecking order of England wicketkeepers and has not played for the side since his last ODI in India in January last year. But Prior’s fitness problems and doubts over the glovework at the highest level of the other two may bring Kieswetter back into consideration for the Tests against Sri Lanka next month.

Bowler of the Day

Kent’s off-spinner Adam Riley continues to advertise himself as a potential successor to Graeme Swann in England’s plans. The 22-year-old has plenty of time to hone his skills and it is likely the national selectors will look to the greater experience of Monty Panesar or the all-round potential of Moeen Ali in the short term, but Riley is acquiring a growing group of admirers.

He elevated himself to second place in the list of leading wicket-takers in the 2014 season with three more as Kent dismissed Gloucestershire for 252 at Bristol. Only Steven Finn (29) has more than his 26 so far. Riley (above), however, would not have anticipated that he would be batting by the close. Kent, in reply, are 33 for 6.

Extras

England wicketkeeper Matt Prior hopes to return from an Achilles injury in Sussex’s Championship game against Middlesex at the Merchant Taylors’ School ground a week today, although whether he takes up his position behind the stumps or plays solely as a batsman has still to be decided.

Prior has not played since scoring 125 against the same opponents as Sussex beat Middlesex at Hove in the opening match of the season. He needs to prove his fitness and form if he is to be considered for England’s first Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s on 12 June.