Kyle Abbott

Kyle Abbott is a right-arm fast bowler and right-handed batsman.

He was born in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and has represented South Africa in all three formats at International level.

Having first featured for KwaZulu-Natal in 2009, Abbott’s ability to bowl accurately at pace soon saw him noticed and he was selected to feature for South Africa A just three years later.

The call-up coincided with topping the domestic first-class wicket charts in South Africa, with the seamer claiming 49 wickets at an average of just 15.36 in the 2012/13 campaign.

His performances continued to impress and in 2013 Abbot was rewarded with International debuts in all three formats. He certainly made his presence felt in his opening International contest, taking match figures of 9-68 on Test debut – the third best match figures by a South African in their first Test appearance.

With an array of talented pacemen available for the Proteas, Abbott found himself in and out of the national side shortly after, leading him to join Hampshire in 2014 where he made a positive impression during a season-long stay – in which he picked up 36 first-class wickets at an average of just 20.33.

The 29-year-old soon earned an International recall, featuring prominently in South Africa’s 2015 ICC World Cup campaign before also making a return to the Test side a year later, claiming 6-77 in the second-innings against Australia.

In January 2017 it was announced that Abbott had re-signed for Hampshire on a four-year deal. Abbott has been crucial with the new ball for Hampshire at the start of the 2017 season. The seamer is one of the leading-wicket takers in the country, taking 60 wickets at an average of just 18.2, including 7-41 against Middlesex in April.

Abbott has also performed in the T20s this season, claiming 3-22 as Hampshire beat Sussex in July to make it back-to-back wins in the competition. Overall, the seamer enjoyed a fantastic season with Hampshire, guiding them to the semi-finals of the NatWest T20 Blast, but he shone in the Specsavers County Championship. His 60 first-class scalps helped his side secure their Division One status for 2018, but the all-rounder showed his talent with the bat, averaging almost 30 on his way to 418 runs in the lower order.