Symcox retires as a player and thinks about coaching

Grizzled veteran of more than 100 first-class matches and closer to 40 than he would care to admit, Pat Symcox, has finally quit the game at all levels after an illustrious career which included a notable Test century. Known throughout the world as Symmo, the man the Northerns team 'management' rejected in the late 80s as an alternate all-rounder to Lee Barnard, had his career kickstarted by Graham Ford, then Natal?s coach, after he had quietly dropped out the provincial scene, and carved out a Test career at the 'tender' age of 33.

He was one of the players of whom Kepler Wessels once privately admitted he would 'go to war with' when it came to playing the tough teams such as Australia and touring the tough countries such as Oz and the Asian sub-continent.

Tough, competitive and someone who did not know the meaning of the word 'surrender' he could give the Aussies as much as they gave. As a tribute to his abrasive and cajoling manner he had a cooked chicken thrown at him during a day/night match in Sydney during the second tour. What he remembers most is that he was part of the team which helped rebuild the South African side, from 1993 until his last tour in 1998: five years of enjoyment and fun.

'I am glad that I was part of that; going off with that side under Kepler and 15 young guys coming through.'

'It was more than I could dream of, starting a career at 33 and going until I was 38. I am happy with my playing life,' he confided, although reluctantly admitted he regretted not going to last year?s World Cup (in England). 'Maybe I could have had an influence on the outcome (of South Africa?s progress). Other than that I would do it all again,' he said with same sort of confidence when he took a century off the Pakistan bowling and did much to set a world record for the ninth wicket with Mark Boucher.

He was quick to respond, however, to suggestions that his retirement from the international scene last year and not being available to go the World Cup had been a mistake. 'I would not say, thinking about it, that not going to the World Cup was a mistake. Now I look back on it well . . . who knows?.'

Yet his international career highlight was when South Africa beat Pakistan in a series in Pakistan at Faisalabad during the 1997/78 tour, winning the man of the match award and the incident of the ball passing through the stumps. Now he plans to give something back to the game as apart from his SuperSport commentating role he would enjoy a coaching post 'somewhere' as he admitted he was 'open to offers'.

There is no doubt he got a taste for the job when he took the South African Plascon Academy side to the British Isles last year. And as one of the 'wise old men' of the tougher school of learning, Symcox has much more experience to draw on than most.

It would do no harm if the UCB utilized his services in some coaching category with either the academy or the South Africa A side.

Making his debut in 1977 for Griqualand West against a Northern Transvaal side captained by Alan Jordaan, later manager of the South Africa side, and Trevor Quirk, now a TV commentator, Symcox?s career was born in the era of isolation and reborn when South Africa re-entered the international scene.

The second highlight was being part of a side cobbled together with Wessels as his captain and winning the Standard Bank Cup last season.

'It was,' he admits unashamedly with the gruff image replaced by something more fresh-faced and remembered from his debut match at Berea Park, 'a proud moment for us in Kimberley.' Which is a natural response considering it was Griquas only trophy last century. Yet his career will always be linked with Griqualand West where he started and ended his career: first as a 17-yearold, fresh out of school and wide-eyed with innocence. Now he has called it quits, suggesting that as Griquas are unlikely to make the semi-finals of the domestic day/night slogs, they need to build for the future.

'I told them on Wednesday that my time has come and as it was getting harder each time to travel from Durban,' he said.

'Also, my form has not been so hot lately,' he said with surprising frankness, 'and the travelling has not helped. It has been a stressful time the last two months.'

He felt that Griquas needed to move on in building for the future but he had enjoyed the two seasons he had to extend his career and appreciated what the province, in particular Mike Doherty, had done for him.

'I really cannot thank Mike enough. It is, in a way, a young side. But after Kepler retired it became hard.'

'You cannot replace someone like that,' he said. 'There is no one around who can fill his place.'

So Symcox bows out, his career as a player completed and ready to face a new challenge in the coming century; it could be a new start for a veteran who knows the ropes better than most.