South Africa are known to produce some fine fast bowling all-rounders. Andrew Hall was one among them. Before starting to play first-class cricket, Hall used to play indoor cricket. He was a medium pace bowler who could bat. Hall also might be the only cricketer to get shot during a mugging and lived to tell the story. In 1998, Hall was shot on his left hand by a mugger, who shot six rounds at him near an ATM. Staggeringly, the wounds were not too serious and Hall made it to the ODI side in 1999.

Hall made his debut against West Indies but played only one game. He was then brought in to partner Gary Kirsten and was a replacement to an out-of-form Herschelle Gibbs. In the series against Australia, Hall held his end firm and made some useful contributions with the bat at the top of the order. During the 2003 England tour, he picked up 16 wickets and made a bludgeoning 99 at Headingley to seal the series in favour of South Africa. After such performances he was a regular in the Test side.

Hall was dropped from the Test team after being banned for two matches since he was found guilty of breaching the ICC's code of conduct during an ODI in Pakistan. However, he made it back to the side for the series against Sri Lanka and India. His only Test hundred (163) came against India at Kanpur, that too while opening the innings. He was also part of the famous run-chase against Australia at Johannesburg. He played the 2007 World Cup, but missed out on the inaugural T20 World Cup which made him to retire from international cricket. He was then signed by Northamptonshire and after the retirement of Nicky Boje, Hall was made captain in 2010.

Hall also played in the rebel league, i.e. ICL, he represented the Chandigarh Lions.



by Akshay Maanay
As of May 2014