With New Zealand right-arm seamer Scott Kuggeleijn getting a spot in the playing XI in the ongoing opening Test against Australia in Wellington, it has not gone well with the fans. Despite the court not founding him guilty amid a sexual assault case in 2015, Kuggeleijn's involvement with the national team has triggered backlash.
The right-arm speedster earned a spot in the playing XI during the Test against England in Mount Maunganui in 2023, making it his first red-ball appearance in international cricket. According to nine.com.au, he told the court during the trial in 2017, "I tried (having sex with the woman) twice, like she might have said 'no, no' a few times but it wasn't dozens of times.
According to the report, a friend of Kuggeleijn told the court "that he had been trying for a while and that he had finally cracked it". The 32-year-old also faced boos from the crowd after the 2nd trial in 2017 when he earned the national cap for the first time in his career. However, the spectators during his maiden Test were a lot more reserved.
Here's how netizens have reacted to Scott Kuggeleijn's inclusion for the Wellington Test against Australia:
Scott Kuggeleijn takes 2 wickets as honours even on opening day:
Contrary to some expectations, Kuggeleijn finished with a couple of wickets on the opening day of the 1st Test against Australia in Wellington, dismissing Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey. The 32-year-old finished day 1 with decent figures of 17-1-56-2.
However, Cameron Green stood tall for Australia with his 2nd Test hundred, remaining unbeaten at 103, thereby lifting them to 271-9. The seam-bowling all-rounder will hope to add more runs as the tourists eye a competitive total to retain the Trans-Tasman Trophy.
