Middlesex Approach UCBSA For Batsman (12 Mar 1997)

12 March 1997

Guy Hawthorne

English County Championship cricket team Middlesex have approached United Cricket Board of SA managing director Ali Bacher for assistance in signing up a top-order batsman for their coming season.

Bacher has recommended they consider one of three young players currently in the SA squad - Transvaal`s Adam Bacher or one of the Western Province duo Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis.

The amount of international cricket, and the pressure it puts on young players in particular, is of concern to Bacher.

And he has made it clear to Middlesex that they will have to bear that in mind if they do sign up a South African.

"We are concerned that the guys are playing too much cricket already, and the tough demands of a season on the county circuit could result in burnout," said Bacher this week, soon after speaking to Middlesex secretary Joe Hardstaff.

"This is more of a problem from the point of view of the bowlers, but we also have to be careful about looking after our young batsmen.

"Our chaps leave for their tour of Pakistan on September 22 and if a player with a county side is in the touring squad, he will quite stressed out by the time that tour arrives.

"I asked Hardstaff if a player in that situation could be released on September 1, provided Middlesex aren`t vying for the championship, to enable him to rest up before the guys leave for Pakistan.

"He didn`t foresee that being a problem, but said he would have to get a decision from the Middlesex committee."

The last South African to play for Middlesex was big Vince van der Bijl, whose performances during the 1980 English summer were a major factor in the county`s championship win.

New Zealand`s Dion Nash was Middlesex`s professional last season.

* The Natal team stands to rake in R330 000 if it adds the Standard Bank Cup to its SuperSport Series title - via an incentive from the Natal Cricket Union and their sponsors. Natal play Kenya in a quarter-final at Kingsmead tomorrow.

Source :: The Star