The Auckland Aces have two New Zealand keepers, so it was a surprise for one young Auckland keeper to get the call up this week.
Nineteen-year old Jonathan Bassett-Graham took the gloves this week while Gareth Hopkins is celebrating the birth of his son and Reece Young is behind the stumps for the New Zealand Invitational XI against Pakistan in Queenstown.
Bassett-Graham said he was shocked to get the call up. “I was pretty amazed and it happened rather unexpectedly,” he said. “But it’s a good opportunity to be part of First-Class cricket and I was able to put the gloves on straight away which settled the nerves.”
Bassett-Graham plays all his cricket out of Suburbs New Lynn in Auckland and played school boy cricket for Kelson Boys and then Kings College, along side BLACKCAP Tim Southee. He is no stranger to the big stage having represented New Zealand Under 19's last year.
Aces coach Paul Strang said Bassett-Graham is fitting into the team well. “It’s great calling on someone youthful and exuberant, and he loves his cricket. He's living the dream this week, has been great around the changing room and is going really well on the field.”
On the first day of the Plunket Shield game against Wellington Bassett-Graham took two catches and aided in a run out.
