Somerset sign Rilee Rossouw for T20 Blast 2022

Somerset has signed Rilee Rossouw for T20 Blast 2022 as an overseas player. He will be available for the entire season subject to obtaining an appropriate visa. The 32-year-old was last in action in the CSA Provincial One-Day Challenge after playing the 2022 Pakistan Super League with runners-up Multan Sultans.

Rossouw, who has the experience of playing a quite of franchise-based short-format leagues around the world, stated that he is delighted to be linked with Somerset, the finalists of the previous Blast season.

“I have experience of playing in England and I made 156 at Taunton in a 50-over game a few seasons back. I remember how the Members and supporters reacted to that even though I was playing for the opposition. That is something that I’ve never forgotten,” he was quoted by Somerset’s official website.

“When the opportunity to play for Somerset came along, I was delighted to take up the challenge. I know that the team got to the Final of the Blast last year, and hopefully, I can help them go one better this summer,” he added.

To have a player of his caliber will add real value to our campaign: Somerset Director 

Andy Hurry, Somerset Director of Cricket, expressed his excitement after procuring the services of a proven top-order batter, welcoming Rossouw into the setup.

“I’m delighted that we have signed Rilee for this season’s Vitality Blast,” he said. “Having looked at the strengths and the quality that we currently have within the T20 squad, as well as considering the global, domestic and international cricket concurrently being played during the Blast, including England Test & One-Day International England fixtures, we felt that adding additional explosive firepower to the batting unit would dovetail perfectly with the very strong group of players within the squad and also enhance our ability to go one step further this season.

“To have a player of Rilee’s proven strike rates and global experience in this format available for the duration of the Blast will add real value to our campaign,” he added.

Rossouw has 327 runs to his name at a strike rate of nearly 138 in 15 T20Is for South Africa, while he has over 5809 runs including three centuries in 236 T20s. Meanwhile, Somerset will be led by Tom Abell in 2022 after Lewis Gregory stepped down.