Saturday, 1st September 2007 at 11:53 am

Andrew Hall bids South Africa farewell

Farewell’s probably too delicate a term, to be honest - two fingers would be more appropriate. After an industrious career on the periphery of the national side, filling roles from new ball bowler to Test opener (remember the hundred against India under Ray Jennings), Hall has retired with immediate effect from representing his country, the result, it would appear, of being left out of the squad for the Twenty20 World Cup.

Hall’s exclusion didn’t get as much attention as it should have, largely because media focus was on the other big name left out of the tournament. But while Kallis’s displeasure was displayed in resigning the vice-captaincy, Hall has gone one step further, and call time on a career that generally didn’t elicit the appreciation it deserved.

Kent will be perfectly happy, the English county now able to enjoy the full-time services of a genuine international all-rounder; not quite the same joy in South Africa, however, Hall’s regular lower order rescue acts and crucial late spells no more to be seen. Granted, a team with Kallis, Shaun Pollock, Justin Kemp, Albie Morkel and Johan van der Wath available for selection puts all-rounders’ spots at a premium; still, Feverpitcher is sorry to see the departure of one of the game’s unsung achievers.