Peter Fulton back from retirement to captain New Zealand Kiwis at HK Sixes; Afghanistan arrive for I-Cup clash

Former test and Canterbury cricketer, known as ‘two-metre Peter’ because of his height, leads a young side at the KCC

PUBLISHED : Sunday, 15 October, 2017, 2:36pm

UPDATED : Friday, 27 October, 2017, 9:40am

Peter Fulton during his test-playing days. Photo: AFP

Peter Fulton has been persuaded to return to international cricket with the former test batsman being appointed captain of the Kiwis side to play at October’s Hong Kong Sixes at Kowloon Cricket Club.

The 38-year-old this year retired from first-class cricket after a season in which he set a record for the fastest domestic century, reaching his ton in 50 balls for Canterbury against Wellington in February.

Known as “two-metre Peter” because of his 1.98m height, the 2015 ICC World Cup finalist leads a young squad for the eight-team Sixes. Also named in the squad, billed as the New Zealand Kiwis, are Shanan Stewart, Roneel Hira, Brad Cachopa, Graeme Beghin, Elliott Herd and Steve Wilkins.

The New Zealand Kiwis are joining the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) squad, Pakistan, Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and hosts Hong Kong in the October 28 and 29 tournament.

Fulton was an accomplished player across all three formats of the game and scored centuries in each innings of a test against England at Eden Park in 2013, as well as reaching three figures in a 2006 one-day international against Sri Lanka.

Afghanistan team arrive in Hong Kong for four-day ICC game against Hong Kong. Photo: Cricket Hong Kong

Hard-hitting opening batsman Ronnie Hira has represented New Zealand in 15 Twenty20 internationals, while Canterbury legend Shanan Stewart has played four one-day internationals for New Zealand.

Graeme Beghin has earned a place in the limited overs Auckland Aces squad for the 2017/18 season in New Zealand, while young and promising off-spinner Elliott Herd was named 2016/17 Auckland club cricketer of the year after taking 67 wickets with a top score of 174.

Meanwhile, the Afghanistan team who recently gained test status have arrived in Hong Kong for their four-day ICC Intercontinental Cup clash against the host starting on October 20.

The Afghans, who are coached by former Australian test player Dean Jones, will start as favourites as they capped their rapid rise in world cricket by this year joining Ireland in being granted test status.