Kieswetter walks away from cricket

Former England and Somerset wicketkeeper-batsman Craig Kieswetter has called time on his cricket career after failing to fully recover from a shocking facial injury sustained in July last year.

Kiewsetter, 27, was felled by a bouncer from Nottinghamshire’s David Willey while batting for Somerset in a County Championship match.

The blow required surgery on a fractured eye socket but he escaped any permanent damage to his vision. 

Kieswetter's brutal hit

Kieswetter today turned to Twitter to announce his immediate exit from the game and to thank his family and Somerset for their support.

“After been given the opportunity to take some time off and step waya from the game I’ve come to a decision that wasn’t the easiest to make, yet I feel is the right one,” Kieswetter said.

“Having gone through the traumatic experience of my eye injury and everything that it entailed, I feel that mentally I will never be the player I was.

“As a person/player I’m not comfortable continuing if I can’t give 100%. I’ve had a terrific career: with plenty of ups and occasional downs, and I am calling time on my career walking away with no regrets.

“There are so many people I am grateful to yet most importantly I need to thank my family, without who nothing I achieved would have been possible. Their sacrifices to help me be able to achieve some fantastic success defines the importance of family.

“I’d also like to thank Somerset Cricket for giving me the opportunity to play as a professional, to help mould me, and for their loyalty – a club full of so many incredible people and fanatical supporters.

“I’ll have many fond memories of a career that spanned nine years.

“See you all soon on the sidelines!” 

Johannesburg-born Kieswetter played 46 one-day internationals for England along with 25 T20 internationals from 2010.

The aggressive top-order batsman was part of England’s World T20 triumph in 2010 in the West Indies, scoring 63 from 49 balls in a man of the match performance against Australia in the final.

The right-hander also played in the KFC Big Bash League in the 2013-14 season, scoring 192 runs in the teal of the Brisbane Heat.