FRIDAY, 12.30PM:
VETERAN South African off-spinner Pat Symcox has been signed by Griqualand West in attempt to shake off their label as the traditionally wooden-spoonists of South African cricket.
Symcox has been signed for a year by the province where he started his provincial career in the 1977-78 season.
The 38-year-old, who seemingly gets better and better with age, decided to return to the Diamond city after a long spell with Natal, the province that boosted him into the international arena.
Mike Doherty, chairman of the Griqualand West Cricket Board, said Symcox has a lot to offer Griquas, and although his career is nearing its end he is still a competitive cricketer.
Doherty, who was Symcox’s first provincial captain joked: “Anyway we have not engaged him in a long-term contract. You don’t sign a Model T Ford for 10 years.”
Doherty was adament that Griquas want to shake off the poor results that have seen them languishing at the bottom of the log of provincial competitions for some time. “We don’t just want to get off the bottom, we are determined to win something next season,” he said. “If you aim for the middle you end up last. We want to end on top.”
Apart from Symcox, former South African skipper Kepler Wessels, West Indian paceman Ottis Gibson and promising youngsters Loots Bosman and Wendell Bossenger could make next season memorable for Griquas.
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