Gloucestershire sign South African big-hitter Grant Roelofsen

South African wicketkeeper-batter Grant Roelofsen has signed for Gloucestershire.

The 26-year-old will join Shire for the start of the T20 Vitality Blast campaign and will also provide cover in the County Championship while opener Marcus Harris links up with the Australia squad for the World Test Championship Final and 2023 Ashes series.

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Roelofsen is a proven top order batter with an average of 34.58 or above across all three formats of the game.

The club’s social media team had fun announcing the signing:

Having recently taken part in the inaugural SA20 competition with MI Cape Town, during which he scored two half centuries and achieved a strike rate of 112 across 10 matches, Roelofsen is no stranger to English cricket.

The former South Africa under-19 international was signed by Essex for the 2022 One-Day Cup and ended the competition as one of the tournament’s top performers.

In just seven 50-over matches, Roelofsen scored 355 runs at an average of 59.16 and achieved a high score of 90 vs Yorkshire at Chelmsford.

Speaking of his joy at signing for Shire, Roelofsen said: “I am extremely excited to be joining the Gloucestershire lads for the next couple of months.

“I got a small taste of county cricket last season with Essex, so needless to say I’m over the moon with the opportunity to play for Gloucestershire in what will hopefully be a successful time for both myself and the team.

“I am excited to learn, grow and hopefully perform in different conditions to South Africa with what is an exceptionally talented bunch of guys.”

Having made almost 150 appearances across all three formats, arguably Roelofsen’s most impressive figures have come in T20 cricket. In 44 innings, he has scored 1349 runs at an average of 34.58 and at a strike rate of 125.37.

In First Class cricket Roelofsen has scored 2792 runs at 38.24 including eight centuries and 10 half-centuries from 53 matches.

In 47 List A appearances, the right-hand bat has scored almost 2000 runs at an average of 42.59 and at an impressive strike rate of 83.62.

Dale Benkenstein, head coach at Gloucestershire Cricket, added: “We’re really pleased to have secured the signing of Grant, he’s a hard-hitting, top-order batter and is right-handed too, which helps us with the make-up of our batting line-up.

“To have Grant available for the T20 competition but also as back-up for Marcus Harris in the County Championship provides us with added quality in the batting unit during a crucial period of cricket for us.

“He also gives us an extra option with the gloves, too, so I’m really pleased to be welcoming Grant to the team.”

Main photo: Dolphins 

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