Desperate South Australia offer contract to Pakistani

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/current/story/352739.html

He's a good batsman and he should make quite a few runs for them, but it shows what a dearth of local talent they have over there, and considering Cosgrove and Ferguson haven't kicked on, he may have to make all the runs.

It's been a while since an overseas player had any success at state level. Flower, Blignaut and Ervine all bombed. Goodwin had a couple of quality seasons though.

Flower was a dissapointment, but he was probably past his best when he signed for SA, Blignaut was never much good despite having a lot of talent, and Ervine has been pretty decent for WA in the one dayers.

Didn't Ervine just lose his contract?

I'm not sure. I'm still not sure if his loyalties lie with England or Australia as far as possible international recognition is concerned. Doubt he has much chance of playing for either, though. Maybe he's hoping he can return and play for Zimbabwe in the next 2-3 years.

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"Recruiting an international player is a new approach for South Australia and a bit outside the square," Sorell said.

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What rubbish.

Sobers, Gibbs, Garner, Younis Ahmed for starters.

Who is the player? (I can't access Cricinfo at work).

YK

Ross wrote:It's been a while since an overseas player had any success at state level. Flower, Blignaut and Ervine all bombed. Goodwin had a couple of quality seasons though.

Goodwin was hardly an import ...grew up in IppyWest (Bunbury) and was playing in the Shield for the Wozzies when the Zimbos offered him International selection

... and proceeded to do considerably better in Tests for Zimbabwe (against their most usual opponents) than in the rigors of Shield

lardbucket wrote:... and proceeded to do considerably better in Tests for Zimbabwe (against their most usual opponents) than in the rigors of Shield

Averaged 41 for WA and 43 for the Zimbos....

Season by season, IIRC, he struggled in early Shield years, then started for Zimbabwe and had a couple of cracking years, then improved his Shield performances, and finally tailed off a bit in his test career. It was definitely a case (early on) of him doing way way better in tests than his earlier Shield form would ever have predicted.

Wasn't goodwin dropped from the WA team early on because a bright young thing by the name of Simon Katich was banging loudly on the door?

Henry wrote:Wasn't goodwin dropped from the WA team early on because a bright young thing by the name of Simon Katich was banging loudly on the door?

No ...It was to play some crabby opener called Hussey