It's about learning as much as I can: Jeet Raval

New Zealand Cricket picked uncapped batsman Jeet Raval in New Zealand’s 16-man squad for the tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa. The selectors showed faith in Raval ahead of Hamish Rutherford. He has been included in the squad as the backup opener for Tom Latham and Martin Guptill.

The left-hander has an impressive record in New Zealand’s first-class tournament, the Plunket Shield 2015-16. He scored 780 runs with an average of 55.71. The 27-year old’s last 5 scores read 202 not out, 139, 90 and 147.

After the team’s first training session in Pretoria, he said, “For me it’s about learning as much as I can and just be myself,”

“The coaches have told me that I’m here only because I love the game and that there’s no need to change anything. So when I get the opportunity, I’ll be ready to go.”

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Raval admitted that he was surprised on receiving the call and said, “It’s a nice and relaxed environment. All the boys have been welcoming, so I’m really enjoying my time so far,” he said. “We moved to New Zealand with the family when I was 16 with mum and dad deciding we wanted a lifestyle change. At the start I completely hated it. It was a massive cultural change.

“I couldn’t understand a word of what the teacher said on my first day of school at Avondale College because I couldn’t speak English. I went home and started crying to my mum and said, ‘Mum let’s got back to India because I don’t know what’s going on here.’

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“But now, I’ve found a new home here in Auckland for the last few years. I’ve scored a few runs, and got a call from Gavin Larsen when I was playing club cricket in UK. I told my wife first, and then called my dad back home in New Zealand. He was over the moon. So I want to just enjoy this opportunity and be myself.”

New Zealand start their Africa tour with a three-day warm-up fixture in Harare from July 22. The BlackCaps will play 2 Tests against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo. Following the series they will fly to South Africa for another 2-Test series.

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