Kieswetter takes tips from Gilchrist

Craig Kieswetter, Somerset's South African keeper, who will qualify to play for England next February, has managed to take a few lessons back from the Champions League Twenty20 despite a disappointing show after he spoke to Adam Gilchrist on batting and keeping wickets.

"The best thing he has said to me is 'just catch it as a keeper and don't worry about how you look' and that is especially true in England with the ball wobbling," Kieswetter told the Sunday Telegraph after Somerset captain Justin Langer introduced him to Gilchrist.

"He [Gilchrist] was predominantly a batter-keeper to start but he told me he works 80% on his keeping and 20% on his batting because he never wants the papers or media to give any coverage to his keeping being below par," Kieswetter said. "For me that was a real eye-opener and in the past three years I have done more training on batting than my keeping and it shows.

"At times my keeping is inconsistent. It is either at the level it needs to be or really below par. At times I have dropped crucial catches which have cost the team. It is something I realised I need to work on."

Like his team, which failed to qualify for the semi-finals, Kieswetter had a disappointing outing in India, scoring only 30 runs at 7.5 and taking two catches from in matches. But he said he learnt from the experience not to attack from outset. "I put added pressure on myself by wanting to do well on this stage. It has not come off and I have learned lessons about cricket and off the field as well."

His form for Somerset in the English season has prompted comparisons with Kevin Pietersen but Kieswetter said he would have a better idea of where he stood in the England pecking order once he qualified. He had earlier said he was not interested in taking up the role of South Africa's keeper once Mark Boucher retired. "Performances are down to me but by the time I am 23 or 24 I want to get into that [England] set-up. If it happens quicker I would be really chuffed but at the moment focussing on this winter putting hard work in and being successful next summer."