Cricket
Foreign boost for local scene
2009-06-10 10:31
Email | Print
Justin Kemp, heading for the Cobras (File)
|
Eduan RoosJohannesburg – If domestic franchises get their way, South African cricket will have a healthy sprinkling of international superstars this season.
Australian bad boy Andrew Symonds and English spinner Samit Patel are just two of the big names on the wanted list for the local season, which begins in October.
Sport24 has reliably learnt that the Highveld Lions have already spoken to Symonds about possibly playing in their Pro20 and the MTN One Day campaigns.
The versatile Queenslander's international career has come to a standstill after he was kicked out of the Australian team prior to the ICC World Twenty20 in England, for an alcohol-related offence.
Symonds's manager, Matt Fearon, told the Cricinfo website that he had already received "several offers" from, among others, South Africa.
Teams in both England and Australia are also courting Symonds, who holds a British passport. It is expected he will announce his withdrawal from international cricket as soon as this Wednesday.
The Lions have also sent out feelers to former Proteas player, Zander de Bruyn, who after a patchy few seasons with the Warriors, has returned to Johannesburg.
The Warriors in turn are after Patel who plays for Nottinghamshire and made his debut for England in 2008.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins and the Eagles could snatch two of the country's so-called "rebels".
Andrew Hall could be on his way to the KwaZulu-Natal team, which has already appointed Graham Ford as coach, while Johan van der Wath will probably return to the Eagles in Bloemfontein.
Justin Kemp, who recently suspended his contract with the non-official Indian Cricket League, will join the Cobras in Cape Town.
The Titans will have to do without the services of experienced Martin van Jaarsveld, but have managed to bag a big signing in the form of Tyron Henderson.
Henderson, one of the English county side Middlesex’s key players, last month played for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League in South Africa.
Faf du Plessis and Jacques Rudolph are the other overseas players who will feature for the Titans. The Titans elected not to renew the contracts of Brendon Reddy and Rushdi Jappie.