Big-hitter Levi lined up by Somerset

By Richard Latham

Big-hitting South African batsman Richard Levi looks set play for Somerset in this season’s Friends Life t20 competition. The man who broke the record for the fastest century in a Twenty20 international with a 45-ball ton against New Zealand last February is being considered as a replacement for Francois du Plessis.

Somerset director of cricket Brian Rose suffered his fourth disappointment over a T20 signing when du Plessis was named in the South Africa A squad to play Sri Lanka this summer. He had already lost out on Roelof van der Merwe and West Indians Kieron Pollard and Chris Gayle.

But there is another contingency plan and Rose admits Levi is now top of his list of targets. He said: “Richard Levi would be an excellent option. I have looked at two or three players, but I really feel that, with Marcus Trescothick likely to miss the start of our Twenty 20 campaign, we need a power hitter at the top of the order.”

Levi, 24, certainly fits the bill. He represented South Africa in the Under-19 World Cup in 2006 and quickly developed a reputation as a fearsome striker of the new ball, especially in the shortest format. In only his second Twenty20 appearance for South Africa, opening the innings against New Zealand, Levi smashed 13 sixes - a record - in an unbeaten 117 off only 51 balls.
 
He is already being talked about as a long-term replacement for former Somerset player Graeme Smith at the top of the order in limited-overs internationals.

If he comes to Somerset, he will join fellow countryman Albie Morkel in the county's Friends Life t20 squad. Both could miss a couple of group games, however, if they are involved in South Africa's five-match T20 series against Zimbabwe next month.
 

Date: 16/05/2012 08:35:27 by Richard Latham
In: Today | Somerset |