Nickname Kleiney, Matt 2009/10-present Western Province Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) Name Matthew Kleinveldt | Batting style Left-handed Role Cricket Bowler Bowling style Right-arm off-spin | |
Full name Matthew Caleb Kleinveldt Born 10 August 1989 (age 35) ( 1989-08-10 ) |
Matthew Caleb Kleinveldt is an England-born South African cricketer. Though born and bred in England, Kleinveldt rejected an offer to play for Hampshire due to England’s new stern sporting visa requirements. He duly moved back to South Africa to start a cricketing career there. Kleinveldt is also cousin of ex-Protea cricketer Rory Kleinveldt.
Domestic career
Though born in England, Kleinveldt made his professional cricketing debuts all in South Africa. A tall, elegant left-handed batsman, Kleinveldt had a respectable first-class debut scoring 41 in the first innings and 13 in the second, against Eastern Province in 2010. He made his debut for the Cape Cobras in early 2012 scoring 9 runs against the Dolphins before being dismissed.
He then made another debut for the Cape Cobras in 2015 in their Four-day Test against the Dolphins where he scored 99 runs.