Postcard (17 April 1999)
This English summer there is an extraordinary number of Australians playing cricket for the different County clubs
17-Apr-1999
17 April 1999
Postcard
from Justin Langer
Catching up with Kent's Aussie recruit, Andrew Symonds
This English summer there is an extraordinary number of Australians
playing cricket for the different County clubs. In all, there are 12
Aussies playing for one of the 18 County sides in this country. Matty
Hayden (Northampton), Jamie Cox (Somerset), Ian Harvey
(Gloucerstershire), Tom Moody (Worcestershire), Stuart Law (Essex),
Michael Kasprowicz (Leicestershire), Michael DiVenuto (Sussex), Greg
Blewett (Yorkshire), Michael Slater (Derbyshire), David Boon (Durham),
yours truly (Middlesex) and Andrew Symonds (Kent) are the overseas
professionals this year.
I believe it is a very positive reflection on Australian cricket that
the County clubs are leaning towards Australian overseas players more
than any other country in international cricket. From a biased point of
view I think the Counties respect that they can't really go wrong in
employing Australian professionals. For one, all of the guys are
talented players but more importantly the Counties know that they will
also be employing players who are very competitive and who will bring
with them an excellent work ethic that we are so used to in our system
of cricket at home.
This week I played against Andrew Symonds who has just started his first
season with Kent. After his brilliant century in the Sheffield Shield
final it was no surprise to see 'Symo' in outstanding form with the bat.
Although we were able to dismiss him for 67 he looked in ominous touch,
it won't surprise me at all to see him enjoying a very productive season
with his adopted club. A player like 'Symo' is a perfect choice as an
overseas player. Not only is he a very talented player but he is also a
much improved medium pace bowler who just happens to be the best
fieldsman in Australia. Add to that the fact that he is a damned good
bloke and I would say that Kent will be pretty satisfied with their 1999
signing.
Talking to 'Symo' during the game he told me that he was really looking
forward to the season ahead. He is enjoying the company of his new Kent
team-mates and although he is feeling the cold weather as much as I am,
he is settling well in the UK. For the four days of our first
Championship game the temperature averaged 8 degrees for the game, a bit
of a change from the West Indies or the Gabba where Symo played his last
game of cricket, and a nightmare of a climate for these two Antipodean
visitors.
West Indian Carl Hooper has been Kent's overseas pro for a number of
seasons now, and while Symo may have a big pair of boots to fill in that
regard, it looks like it won't take him long to become an integral part
of the Kent team. Unfortunately no result was produced from game number
one at Lords, mainly as a result of an abandoned first day, but all in
all it was good to get the body back into County cricket mode.
Jamie Cox started his season as captain of Somerset with 139 against the
Combined University team and Michael 'Kaspro' took wickets in both
innings to help his adopted County to the first outright victory of this
Championship season.
From Lords
Still Freezing!
JL