Bits-and-pieces Hall has full South Africa role to play by AFP

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Event:

ICC World Cup 2006/07

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DateLine: 9th March 2007

 

All-rounder Andrew Hall is happy to be South Africa's man for a crisis.

 

After all, after surviving getting shot at point-blank range during a robbery, the 31-year-old takes a game of cricket in his stride.

 

Never was that calm-headed approach more needed than on Monday when he rode to rescue South Africa from potential embarrassment against Ireland when, coming in at number nine with his team 91-8, he hit an unbeaten 67.

 

That helped South Africa to a respectable 192 before Hall then chipped in with the ball taking 3-26 as his team edged to a nervy 35-run win in the warm-up game.

 

"We back him 100 per cent, we back his ability especially in tight situations," said South Africa coach Mickey Arthur. "The performance (against Ireland) proved how valuable he is to our World Cup squad."

 

Hall is the template for the typical all-round, reliable one-day cricketer. Against Ireland, he batted at nine; at other times in his international career, he has been promoted to opener.

 

In 76 one-day appearances, he has hit 843 runs and taken 79 wickets.

 

His low-key approach is no doubt inspired by the terryifying moment in 1998 when he was shot at six times by a robber in a late-night attack outside a cash-dispensing machine.

 

One bullet lodged in his left hand but it didn't stop him winning a place in the squad to face the West Indies in 1999.

 

He played just once and was left out until 2003 when he was recalled to face Australia and hit a breezy 46 in his first game against an attack featuring Brett Lee.

 

Despite his ups and downs both on and off the field, Hall doesn't get too carried away.

 

"I'm glad to make a contribution and I would like to continue the good cricket I've been playing I'm comfortable with my cricket at the moment," he said.

 

Meanwhile, South Africa face Pakistan here in their final warm-up on Friday with Arthur hoping to see conditions at the Sir Frank Worrell ground a little quicker.

 

"It looked a good wicket (against Ireland), nothing wrong with it. It might have done a bit more in the morning, but a really good wicket."

 

After Friday's match South Africa head to St Kitts for their opening Group A matches against defending champions Australia, Scotland and the Netherlands.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)