Crookes joins Transvaal (12 Aug 1997)

August 12 1997

"Three for the price of one" as Vaal sign Crookes

by Guy Hawthorne

Derek Crookes, a member of the South African cricket squad last season, will be settling in Johannesburg and will turn out for Transvaal in 1997/98.

The talented 28-year-old offspinner, a member of the Natal side that won the SuperSport Series and the Standard Bank Cup last season, is currently playing league cricket in England and will team up with Transvaal on his return at the end of this month.

Born in Durban, the son of former South Africa player Norman represented the Natal Nuffield side from 1986 -88. He was also picked as captain of SA Schools in 1988.

With Transvaal's middle-order having struggled at times last season, Crookes, who is a highly-regarded, hard-hitting batsman, is regarded as the ideal player to bolster that area of the province's line-up.

It will also be interesting to see how often Transvaal opt for two slow bowlers in the coming season, bearing in mind that leftarm spinner Clive Eksteen is also part of their squad.

The signing of Crookes, who is also a fine fielder with electrifying pace and a good arm, was confirmed earlier today by Transvaal Cricket Board chairman Gerald Ritchie.

"We are thrilled to have acquired a player of his quality," said Ritchie.

"Because of his allround ability, we feel we are getting three for the price of one. Derek has the talent to hold his own as a batsman, bowler or fielder.

"He will add some stability to the middle-order while also bringing to it an added attacking dimension. He is the type of guy who goes in and plays his shots, which I feel will complement our line-up nicely."

Crookes is the second Natalian to have moved to Gauteng from the coast after Rudi Steyn this week signed with Northerns.

Transvaal captain Ken Rutherford was "delighted" at the acquisition of a man he regards as "more of a batting than a bowling allrounder".

"Lack of consistency all the way down the order was one of our problems last season and I feel he'll do a job for us in sorting that out," said Rutherford.

"The Wanderers hasn't been the green mamba it always was for the past couple of season, so there is a possibility that we could operate more and more with two spinners during the coming season."

Source:: The Star