Kyle Abbott

Kyle Abbott is a famous name in South African and English cricketing circles and beyond. A KwaZulu-Natal born swing bowler who played his last international match for the Proteas in late 2017, before signing a Kolpak deal with English County Hampshire and then returned back to his native country when all Kolpak registrations were cancelled at the end of 2020. 

As a 19-year-old, Abbott played for the Clevedon Cricket Club during 2006-07 of England Premier League, where he got contracted by Somerset to play for their Second XI. Two years later, the swing bowler first played for Kwazulu-Natal, back in South Africa, and then represented the Dolphins franchise immediately thereafter.

The KwaZulu-Natal born always had the ability to move the ball, but at the provincial level, he added pace to his arsenal. The pacer had a breakthrough season during 2012-13 to end as the leading wicket-taker of the season with 49 wickets at an average of 15.36.

The pacer soon booked a place in the South African Invitation XI to play a touring Pakistan team, before earning his Test cap in early 2013. Jacques Kallis’ injury gave Abbott a chance to wear the South African whites, the pacer used the opportunity to stun Misbah ul Haq’s side with a Player of the Match performance of 9 for 68. 

Soon he became an integral part of the Proteas setup and played 11 Test matches, 28 One-Day Internationals, and 21 T20 Internationals in the next four years, before playing his final game - the New Year's Test of 2017 - against Sri Lanka. He was also part of the national team during the 2015 World Cup and the World T20 of 2016. 

However, he was left out of the Playing XI during the semifinal of the 50-over World Cup, which ended as a heartbreak for South Africa. Later, it was revealed that was interference by CSA as they ordered Vernon Philander’s selection instead of Abbott. 

In the summer of 2017, the South African signed a Kolpak deal with Hampshire to play for the club in the English county. Although he had already played at the Ageas Bowl during the 2014 season, picking up 36 First-Class wickets at an average of just 20.33 in his debut season. 

Abbott restarted his Hampshire career by scalping 60 wickets at 18.20 apiece. He was instrumental again with the ball throughout 2018 as he finished with 51 scalps at just 23.17. 

The South African created history in 2019 when he claimed the best FC figures by any Hampshire player and the best County Championship figures since 1956 with 17 for 86 against Somerset. 

Covid-19 restrictions forced Abbot to not feature in the county in 2020, and then all Kolpak registrations were cancelled at the end of that year. 

In April 2021, Abbott was named in Boland's squad, to again play in South Africa. The pacer now represents Hampshire as an overseas cricketer, which makes him an irregular but the spark remains the same. 

(As of September 2021)