County Championship side Hampshire backed out of playing New Zealand fast bowler Scott Kuggeleijn in their four-day Division One clash with Warwickshire on Wednesday due to fan backlash.
Hampshire did not formally announce the signing of three-Test quick Kuggeleijn but named the 34-year-old in a 15-player squad for a potential debut on the eve of the match in Southampton.
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The sneaky ploy was met with widespread backlash by Hampshire’s and cricket fans on social media as Kuggeleijn was acquitted of rape and indecent assault charges after two trials – due to a hung jury – in 2016 and 2017 following an alleged incident involving a woman two years earlier.
According to the New Zealand Herald, “the complainant said she had said ‘no’ to sex ‘dozens of times’. On the morning of the alleged assault, she said she repeatedly had to try and hold up her underwear as Kuggeleijn pressured her for sex. However, at one point, she said, she couldn’t hold them up any longer and he got them down, eventually holding her arms above her head and beginning to having [sic] sex with her.”
The report continued: “In the stand, Kuggeleijn said he thought the complainant had been enjoying the intercourse because she was ‘breathing heavily’ and acted the same as when he was touching her. Allegations that he used force were ‘not true’, he said.
“When asked about the complainant’s evidence that she said ‘no’ dozens of times, he said it was ‘a lie’. ‘I tried [having sex] twice, like she might have said ‘no, no’ a few times but it wasn’t dozens of times.”
New Zealand Cricket received backlash when Kuggeleijn made his international debut – in an ODI series in Ireland – in the same year as the second trial.
Former NZ Cricket chief executive David White said at the time that the national body “respected the court process and were not in the business of relitigating past events”.
Kuggeleijn then made his Test debut against England in 2023 and played both Tests on Australia’s most trip across the Tasman two-and-a-half years ago.
When Kuggeleijn first played international cricket in his home country during a T20 series against Sri Lanka in 2019, fans displayed ‘#MeToo’ banners in the stands at Eden Park.
Similar anti-violence against women messages have flooded Hampshire’s socials in the past 24 hours and after talk online of a fan boycott of the clash with Warwickshire, the club released a statement saying the fast bowler will not represent them 35 minutes before play was due to start – it was delayed due to bad weather.
“Having reflected and listened to feedback from our staff and supporters, Hampshire Cricket can confirm that Scott Kuggeleijn will not represent the Club,” the statement read.
“We value the passion of our fanbase and thank everyone who took the time to share their views.
“Our focus now turns to supporting the team through the final four County Championship fixtures of the season.
