Brooks was getting nowhere

SUFFOLK director of cricket Kevin Brooks felt he was bashing his head against a brick wall trying to bring in a top-flight player for the showpiece Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy third round match against Northamptonshire at Bury St Edmunds on May 29.

By Elvin King

SUFFOLK director of cricket Kevin Brooks felt he was bashing his head against a brick wall trying to bring in a top-flight player for the showpiece Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy third round match against Northamptonshire at Bury St Edmunds on May 29.

But is has all worked out well this week with the signature of South African Test and one-day international Andrew Hall.

First off all Brooks lost out on Dave Callaghan, the South African who served Suffolk well for the last couple of seasons. He is not returning to England this year after playing club cricket for Lytham St Annes.

Brooks then went for Test player Justin Kemp, but he had to pull out when he suffered an injury and has stayed in South Africa.

Brooks was advised by Callaghan to try Pierre Joubert, another South African who plays for Northern Transvaal. But although Joubert was available to play against Northants he would have missed the away game at Buckinghamshire in the first round of the 2003 C&G Trophy on August 28.

"I was getting nowhere," said Brooks. "But Pierre put me on to 26-year-old Andrew, who is not being recalled to his South African province side until September.

"Andrew's credentials appear better than Pierre and I am sure he will do a good job for us. He will add a lot of value to the team that plays against Northants and also that against Buckinghamshire."

Hall is in England this summer playing for Lancashire League club Rawtenstall. A right-handed batsman and right-arm medium-fast bowler, Hall scored 70 on his debut in the four-wicket defeat to Australia in the Second Test at Cape Town in March this year.

He held his place in the side for the Third Test at Durban, scoring 27 not out in the first innings in a match that South Africa won by five wickets.

Hall made his international one-day debut in a 55-run win against West Indies at Durban in 1999 and has played in a total of 20 matches, averaging 24.23 with the bat and taking five wickets at 42.80.

Four years ago Hall survived an attack when a mugger shot him at point-blank range and the bullet lodged in his left hand.

Brooks has a full squad available for the Northants game, including ex-England Test star Bill Athey, apart from all rounder Ian Graham who is doing a world tour. Chris Seal has moved away since last year and will not feature.