CRICKET: Suffolk cricketers are to have a special weekend camp at Culford School to prepare for the 2002 season. Players will assemble on Friday April 12 and then spend Saturday and Sunday in coaching sessions at the west Suffolk School.

SUFFOLK cricketers are to have a special weekend camp at Culford School to prepare for the 2002 season. Players will assemble on Friday April 12 and then spend Saturday and Sunday in coaching sessions at the west Suffolk School.

"It will be an ideal way to prepare for the season," said Suffolk's director of cricket Kevin Brooks, who confirmed that South African Test and one-day international all-rounder Justin Kemp could play for the county this summer.

Suffolk are to approach Kemp, who played for South Africa in the recent triangular VB Series in Australia, with a view to him turning out for the county in this year's Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy.

A right-handed batsman and right arm fast medium bowler, Kemp has been recommended to Suffolk by his cousin Dave Callaghan, the former South African one-day international who has played for the county in the competition for the past three years.

The 24-year-old, who plays for Eastern Province, is to replace Callaghan as professional at Lancashire side Lytham St Annes this summer.

Suffolk have made an offer to Kemp and are waiting for his reply. They are confident of securing his services for this season's C&G Trophy. Suffolk meet Northamptonshire at Bury St Edmunds in the third round on May 29, with the winners facing the prospect of a home tie against county champions Yorkshire.

Brooks said: "At the current time Justin is on the fringes of the South African one-day side purely and simply because of the quality of the squad they have. All-rounders like Jacques Kallis and Lance Klusener are ahead of him in the pecking order at the moment.

"I'm told he bowls at a comparative pace to Shaun Pollock and if Justin agrees to play to have a strike bowler of his quality will certainly bolster our C&G one-day side."

Overseas players are permitted to play for Minor Counties in the C&G Trophy, but not in the Championship or ECB 38-County Trophy.

Former England batsman Bill Athey, who was the county's professional last season, will only be available for one-day matches so Suffolk are to make a formal offer to former Derbyshire bowler Trevor Smith as their professional for the 2002 season.

Brooks continued: "We are to offer Trevor Smith terms to play for us this season. I have arranged to see him next week.

"It has been clear over the last couple of seasons on occasions that we have been short of a strike bowler.

"Gary Kirk may not be available much and Chris Seal has moved away from the area and his wife is expecting a baby. He has indicated that it is unlikely that he will be available to play in the foreseeable future.

"We also don't know whether Kevin Shaw, who underwent a knee operation last season, will be fully fit to play, but we hope he will be challenging for a place.

"With Bill Athey not being available for our championship matches it will give our up-and-coming young batsmen the chance to cement a place in the side.

"And with Justin Kemp, if he signs, only eligible for the C&G Trophy, our young bowlers such as David Cross, Chris Swallow and Paul King will still get the chance to establish themselves in the side."