Cricket: Kuggeleijn opts out of national playing obligations

Scott Kuggeleijn.

Promising cricketer Scott Kuggeleijn has asked to be excused from any potential New Zealand representative playing obligations.

Kuggeleijn is facing a re-trial early next year on a rape charge.

The first trial, stemming from an incident in Hamilton in May last year, ended in a hung jury after 11 hours deliberation.

Kuggeleijn, a fast-medium bowler and a assertive lower middle order batsman for Northern Districts, would have been an almost certain inclusion in the New Zealand A squad to play Pakistan in Nelson this month. That squad is expected to be named tomorrow.

He is averaging 77 with the bat in the Plunket Shield after two rounds - including hitting 112 against Wellington - and has 12 wickets at 24.08, including nine for 190 against Canterbury in the opening round.

He is equal second on most wickets in the shield.

In a statement issued by New Zealand Cricket, Kuggeleijn believes any selection in a New Zealand team at any level before the re-trial would "likely be a significant distraction for him and the game itself...which is not a situation he desires".

Kuggeleijn, 24, averages 31.18 with the bat from 44 first-class games, and has taken 147 wickets at 33 in a first-class careeer which began in 2011-12.