Kieran Noema-Barnett

Kieran Noema-Barnett followed arguably the most successful season of his four seasons with Gloucestershire by turning down a new contract when the attractions of his native New Zealand and an attractive job opportunity became too much to ignore.

A former New Zealand Under 19 international, Noema-Barnett is a British passport holder through his English father and that allowed him the opportunity to join Gloucestershire at the end of the 2014 season after impressing on trial.

Noema-Barnett, a hard-hitting allrounder, previously played for Central Districts in his native country and played all 11 matches in their successful HRV Cup campaign in 2009-10 season. A strong performance with the ball led to his inclusion included in Central District's squad for the Champions League.

In December 2010 he set the record for the fastest half century in New Zealand domestic T20 - smashing 50 off 14 balls. When he made a maiden first-class century for Central Districts in 2011, he remarked lugubriously that it had come in a format that didn't really suit him.

He was replaced as captain of Central Districts in 2013, with the coach Heinrich Malan suggesting it would allow him to concentrate on trying to crack the New Zealand side. Noema-Barnett chose to sign on as a local player at Gloucestershire, so ending his chances of New Zealand recognition in an instant. Asked of the two incidents were connected, he said: "It's not a massive coincidence."

His reputation at Gloucestershire was built predominantly in the shorter formats. His most memorable Gloucestershire performance in 2017 came in the win against local rivals Somerset in Bristol when he smashed 33 off 18 balls.

2018 was arguably his best season. He found himself top of the Gloucestershire Championship batting averages (a healthy number of not outs helped with that) and averaged 28.29 in the T20 Blast, scoring at a fast rate of 172 and settling several matches in Gloucestershire's favour.
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