BROMSGROVE Cricket Club batsman Alexei Kervezee is to part company with Worcestershire CCC after not being offered a new contract.
But the news has come as a shock to Boars captain Mark Evenson who says it is ‘mind-boggling’ that the county do not require his services anymore.
Namibia-born Kervezee, who joined the Pears a decade ago and is out of contract at the end of this year, kept the news hidden from Bromsgrove prior to their Birmingham League Division One clash against Moseley on Saturday so it did not distract the players.
“That just speaks volumes of the bloke as he puts cricket first before himself,” Evenson said.
“The news has completely baffled me because we see his skills week in, week out and against Moseley he completely destroyed their bowling attack.
“Alexei is a quality cricketer but it’s just mind-boggling that Worcestershire do not want his services anymore.
“He’s brilliant not only with the bat, but with the ball too because he can bowl seam or spin.
“On a positive note he can be fully committed to us but we hope he can get himself back into county cricket as soon as possible.”
Twenty-seven-year-old Kervezee has played in 39 ODIs and ten T20Is for the Netherlands and enjoyed his most prolific season at New Road in 2010 when he scored 1,190 first class runs at an average of 44.07.
He made his last appearance at senior level for Worcestershire against Northamptonshire in the Royal London One-Day Cup last July.
Kervezee scored 4,621 first class runs with six centuries at an average of 29.81, 2,632 List A runs at 29.90 and 1,356 T20 runs at 19.20.
“I would like to thank everyone at the club for the past 11 seasons, for making Worcestershire my home,” he said.
“We’ve shared some amazing times and memories, it will always have a special place in my heart.
“I’ve always worn the badge with pride, it was always a pleasure walking out to bat at New Road with the Three Pears on my helmet.
“It’s time to move onto a new chapter in my career and I look forward to what the future may hold.
“I still feel I have a tremendous amount to offer the game.
“I would like to thank the club, players and coaches for all the opportunities, memories and smiles over the years and wish them all the best in the future.”
