Tim Groenewald

Timothy Duncan Groenewald boarded the same train as Kevin Petersen did. Born and raised in South Africa’s Pietermaritzburg, went to the same school where KP did, and just like the former Englishman migrated to the United Kingdom to play, thanks to his English mother. However, unlike Petersen, the seam-bowling all-rounder wasn’t fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to represent the England cricket team. 

Groenewald made his first appearance in the UK when he played for Warwickshire's Second XI in 2004, while he, then, used to play in the South African domestic league as well, during the English winters. By the next season, the all-rounder became a regular for the county and made his First XI debut in 2006. However, due to limited opportunities, he parted ways with the county to join Derbyshire at the end of 2008. 

His move to Derby proved to be a masterstroke as Groenewald topped the county's first-class bowling averages in 2009, taking 34 wickets at 27.08. He became the leader of Derbyshire’s pace-battery and performed regularly throughout his time with the county. He picked up 42 wickets at 25.85 during Derbyshire's winning campaign in 2012. However, the all-rounder left the county to join hands with Somerset with a loan in 2014, before signing a three-year contract. 

The South African had a successful tenure with Somerset as well but left the county after six successful seasons. In 2019, the seasoned campaigner joined Kent and he still provides them services as a player-cum-mentor. 

At 37, Groenewald has experience of 403 FC wickets, 123 List-A scalps, and 99 T20 wickets, apart from more than 3500 runs on his back. He, now, plays a huge part in shaping youngsters such as Matt Milnes, Harry Podmore, and Nathan Gilchrist and let them tap into the knowledge he has accrued over 17-years of playing county cricket.

(As of June 2021)