Former Proteas captain Kepler Wessels’ son, Riki, has welcomed a change to a lengthy career after moving from Nottinghamshire to Worcestershire in English county cricket.

Wessels’ first-class career has spanned 15 years, the bulk of which was spent at Notts.

The past six months have been particularly busy for the 33-year-old, too, amid stints with the Bengal Tigers in Sharjah’s T10 League, Kandahar Knights in the Afghanistan Premier League and Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League.

‘I fancied a fresh start to keep myself going and be inspired to keep playing, and there’s no better place to do it at such a lovely ground.’ Wessels told the Worcestershire Observer.

‘They’re a good bunch of young guys and I feel like I can leave something at the club and leave it in a better place than when I got here.

‘It has given me a new lease on life, an enjoyment of cricket again. I think when you turn up to the same place everyday, day in, day out, you take it a bit for granted.’

Worcestershire’s 2019 County Championship Division Two campaign will start against Leicestershire at Grace Road on 11 April.

‘Red-ball cricket is always something I have enjoyed; most people see me as the white-ball slogger, which is fine, but I still hold Championship cricket close to my heart,’ he added.

‘I still have the love for four days of pain in the field, and long may that last.’

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