{{short description|New Zealand cricketer (born 2000)}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Simon Keene | image = | fullname = Simon Bryan Keene | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2000|10|21}} | birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand | death_date = | death_place = | family = | batting = Right-handed | bowling = Right-arm medium-fast | role = Bowler

| club1 = Auckland | year1 = 2021/22–present

| columns = 3

| column1 = FC | matches1 = 25 | runs1 = 976 | bat avg1 = 27.11 | 100s/50s1 = 1/5 | top score1 = 100* | deliveries1 = 3099 | wickets1 = 55 | bowl avg1 = 30.00 | fivefor1 = 3 | tenfor1 = 0 | best bowling1 = 6/44 | catches/stumpings1 = 17/–

| column2 = LA | matches2 = 20 | runs2 = 324 | bat avg2 = 27.00 | 100s/50s2 = 0/1 | top score2 = 77 | deliveries2 = 633 | wickets2 = 22 | bowl avg2 = 26.04 | fivefor2 = 1 | tenfor2 = 0 | best bowling2 = 5/29 | catches/stumpings2 = 11/–

| column3 =T20 | matches3 =8 | runs3 = 185 | bat avg3 = 23.12 | 100s/50s3 = 0/1 | top score3 = 81 | deliveries3 = 108 | wickets3 = 4 | bowl avg3 = 33.25 | fivefor3 = 0 | tenfor3 = 0 | best bowling3 = 2/24 | catches/stumpings3 = 4/– | date = 8 December 2025 | source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/simon-keene-1211816 Cricinfo }} '''Simon Brian Keene'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wisden.com/players/simon-keene|title=Simon Keene|website=Wisden|accessdate=19 May 2022}}</ref> (born 21 October 2000) is a New Zealand cricketer who has played five first-class and two List A matches. A bowler who can bat, Keene has had success playing for the Auckland cricket team. He was the equal third-highest wicket-taker in the 2021–22 Plunket Shield season. His 25 wickets in the season were at the cost of just 14.28 runs apiece.

==Career==

Before his senior career for Auckland, Keene played seven Youth ODIs for the New Zealand national under-19 cricket team in January 2020, including three matches in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup. In total, he scored 42 runs at a batting average of 7.00 and took 3 wickets at a bowling average of 43.00.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/simon-keene-1211816/bowling-batting-stats|title=Simon Keene – career statistics|website=Cricinfo|accessdate=16 October 2022}}</ref> In the next season, he played two matches for a New Zealand XI, consisting of mostly young players not appearing for their province in the Super Smash, against the Pakistan Shaheens. In the matches, on 3 January and 5 January, Keene took 4 wickets in total.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/pakistan-a-in-nz-2020-21-1240846/new-zealand-xi-vs-pakistan-shaheens-1240906/full-scorecard|title=Pakistan Shaheens tour of New Zealand: Lincoln, 3 January 2021|website=Cricinfo|accessdate=19 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/pakistan-a-in-nz-2020-21-1240846/new-zealand-xi-vs-pakistan-shaheens-1240907/full-scorecard|title=Pakistan Shaheens tour of New Zealand: Lincoln, 5 January 2021|website=Cricinfo|accessdate=19 May 2022}}</ref>

Keene made his senior debut as a 20-year-old on 11 February 2022 in the Plunket Shield, batting at 9 and bowling second change. In the game, for Auckland against Otago, he took match figures of 7 wickets for 38 runs conceded (7–38).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/plunket-shield-2021-22-1279954/otago-vs-auckland-11th-match-1280004/full-scorecard|title=11th match, 2021–22 Plunket Shield: Dunedin, 11–14 February 2022|website=Cricinfo|accessdate=9 April 2022}}</ref>

One week later, Keene played two List A matches in the Ford Trophy for Auckland. On debut, he took 4–47 off 10 overs to help Auckland to a win. In the second game Keene did not get any wickets, but he did take a catch and was not out in a close run chase.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/the-ford-trophy-2021-22-1279953/auckland-vs-otago-28th-match-1279977/full-scorecard|title=28th match, 2021–22 Ford Trophy: Auckland, 22 February 2022|website=Cricinfo|accessdate=19 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/the-ford-trophy-2021-22-1279953/auckland-vs-central-districts-29th-match-1279958/full-scorecard|title=29th match, 2021–22 Ford Trophy: Auckland, 24 February 2022|website=Cricinfo|accessdate=19 May 2022}}</ref> As he did not play in the final of the Ford Trophy, which Auckland won, Keene has not played any further one-day games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/the-ford-trophy-2021-22-1279953/central-districts-vs-auckland-final-1279988/full-scorecard|title=Final, 2021–22 Ford Trophy: Queenstown, 26 February 2022|website=Cricinfo|accessdate=19 May 2022}}</ref>

From 3–6 March, Keene played for Auckland against Canterbury in the Plunket Shield. He scored 0 runs in his sole innings, but took 8 wickets including 6–44 to secure a win for Auckland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/plunket-shield-2021-22-1279954/auckland-vs-canterbury-13th-match-1279999/full-scorecard|title=13th match, 2021–22 Plunket Shield: Auckland, 3–6 March 2022|website=Cricinfo|accessdate=8 August 2022}}</ref> His next game was on 28 March, against Wellington; he took 6–51 and 2–38 in Auckland's win.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/plunket-shield-2021-22-1279954/auckland-vs-wellington-19th-match-1280008/full-scorecard|title=19th match, 2021–22 Plunket Shield: Auckland, 28–30 March 2022|website=Cricinfo|accessdate=16 October 2022}}</ref> The following week he played again, this time against Central Districts, with his first senior cricket fifty – 65 off 108 deliveries – but took no wicket in 20 overs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/plunket-shield-2021-22-1279954/central-districts-vs-auckland-23rd-match-1279980/full-scorecard|title=23rd match, 2021–22 Plunket Shield: Napier, 5–8 April 2022|website=Cricinfo|accessdate=16 October 2022}}</ref> Keene played also in the final match of the season, against Canterbury, ending up with match figures of 2–70.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/plunket-shield-2021-22-1279954/canterbury-vs-auckland-24th-match-1279987/full-scorecard|title=24th match, 2021–22 Plunket Shield: Lincoln, 12–15 April 2022|website=Cricinfo|accessdate=16 October 2022}}</ref>

Keene received his first professional contract, for Auckland, ahead of the 2022–23 cricket season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/new-zealand-domestic-contracts-adam-milne-moves-to-wellington-glenn-phillips-reunites-with-brother-dale-at-otago-1320888|title=NZ domestic contracts: Milne moves to Wellington, Glenn Phillips reunites with brother Dale at Otago|website=Cricinfo|author=Deivarayan Muthu|date=22 June 2022|accessdate=16 October 2022}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Keene, Simon}} Category:2000 births Category:Cricketers from Auckland Category:Living people