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Andrew James Hall (born 31 July 1975) is a former South African first-class cricketer who played from 1999 until 2011. He played as an all-rounder who bowled fast-medium pace and has been used as both an opening batsman and in the lower order. He was born in Johannesburg in South Africa in 1975 and educated at Hoërskool Alberton in Alberton, Gauteng.

Key Information

Prior to making it on the South African first-class cricket scene he played indoor cricket for South Africa. He broke through in 1995/96 and has played for Transvaal, Gauteng, and Easterns.

Internationally, Hall was initially thought of solely as a limited overs cricket specialist and made his ODI debut against the West Indies at Durban in 1999.[1] He was a regular in the ODI team until 2007, taking part in South Africa's 2003 Cricket World Cup squad and the 2007 Cricket World Cup. He appeared in the Test team sporadically and made his debut in 2002 against Australia at Cape Town.[2] Batting at number 8, he scored 70 but did not pick up any wickets in the match.[3]

He retired from international cricket in September 2007 but continued to play domestic cricket in both South Africa and England until 2014.

International career

[edit]

During the 2003 England tour he received a late call-up to the South African squad and impressed with 16 wickets in the Test series. He scored a match-winning 99 not out at Headingley and became the 5th batsman in Test cricket to have been stranded one short of a hundred.[4][5][6]

In 2004, due to the absence of the recently retired Gary Kirsten and non-touring Herschelle Gibbs, he was promoted to open the batting in the Test series against India. He reacted to the added responsibility by scoring 163 at Kanpur – his maiden Test century.[7] The century was made against the likes of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, batting for almost ten hours.[8][9][10]

He holds the World Record 8th wicket stand in ODI cricket of 138 with Justin Kemp, made against India in November 2006. His contribution was an unbeaten 56 from 47 balls and he went on to take 3 wickets in the second innings.[11][12]

During the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies he took his maiden 5 wicket haul (5/18) against England on 17 April at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados.[13][14]

International retirement

[edit]

Hall retired from international cricket in September 2007. Whilst not giving a reason for his decision, Graham Ford – Hall's coach at Kent – speculated it was due to his omission from the 2007 Twenty20 World Championship squad, saying:[15]

I can only assume that he was reacting to the bitter disappointment of being left out of the World Cup [Championship] squad.

County career

[edit]

Hall played for Durham Cricket Board in the 1999 NatWest Trophy, his first experience in English County Cricket. He played one List A match for Suffolk in the 2002 Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy whilst playing for Rawtenstall in the Lancashire League. This was Halls only appearance in any form of cricket for Suffolk. He then played his first senior English cricket for Worcestershire in the 2003 and 2004 English seasons.

Hall moved to play for Kent from 2005 to 2007, playing parts of each season when not appearing for the South African team. He returned to England in 2008 when he signed for Northamptonshire as a Kolpak player. While playing for Northants he set a record for the team's best Twenty20 bowling figures, taking 6/21 against Worcestershire in 2008. He also achieved his best Twenty20 batting performance in the same game (66 not out). He became captain of the county in 2010 after fellow South African Nicky Boje resigned, remaining captain until after the 2012 season when he was replaced by Stephen Peters.[16] During his tenure as captain he nearly led Northants to promotion in the County Championship.

Hall continued to play for Northants until the end of the 2014 season when he was not offered a new contract. He announced his retirement from professional cricket shortly afterwards.[17]

Personal life

[edit]

After retiring, Hall became a sports teacher at Milton Keynes Preparatory School.[18][19]

Hall was the victim of a robbery at an automatic teller machine in 1999 during which he was shot in his left hand.[20] The mugger is said to have fired six shots at him.[21] In 2002, he was driven around in his own car with a gun pointed to his head.[21]

References

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Andrew Hall

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Andrew James Hall (born 31 July 1975) is a former South African cricketer who played first-class cricket as an all-rounder from 1999 to 2014.[1] He represented South Africa in 21 Test matches and 88 One Day Internationals (ODIs) between 1999 and 2007, including at the 2003 and 2007 Cricket World Cups, where he was known for his right-handed batting—often as an opener or lower-order hitter—and right-arm fast-medium bowling. Hall debuted in ODIs against the West Indies in 1999 and in Tests against Australia in 2002, achieving a Test century of 163 against India in 2004 and a five-wicket haul of 5/18 against England in the 2007 World Cup.[1] Born in Johannesburg, Hall was educated at Hoërskool Alberton in Gauteng. After retiring from international cricket in September 2007, he continued his professional career in English county cricket with Worcestershire, Kent, and Northamptonshire until 2014. Post-retirement, he worked as a sports teacher at Milton Keynes Preparatory School.

Early career

Early life and education

Andrew James Hall was born on 31 July 1975 in Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa (now Gauteng).[1] He grew up in a typical South African family environment in the Johannesburg area, with a family that had a strong cricketing background, as his father, sister, and brother all represented South African teams at various levels.[2] Hall received his education at Hoërskool Alberton, a high school in Alberton, Gauteng, where he first nurtured his passion for athletics and team sports.[1] As a youth, Hall immersed himself in indoor cricket, a fast-paced variant of the game popular in South Africa, which marked his initial foray into structured competition.[3] He represented South Africa at the indoor level, honing skills in batting and medium-pace bowling that would later define his career, while building resilience in confined playing conditions.[4] In 1998, Hall survived a shooting during a mugging in Johannesburg, sustaining an injury to his left hand but recovering fully to resume his cricket career.[5] This phase provided essential groundwork before his shift to outdoor formats.

South African domestic career

Andrew Hall made his first-class debut for Transvaal against Zimbabwe A at the Wanderers in Johannesburg from 21 to 24 September 1995, a match Transvaal won by nine wickets.[6][5] As a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler, he quickly established himself as a promising all-rounder in South African provincial cricket.[1] Following the renaming of Transvaal to Gauteng ahead of the 1996/97 season, Hall became a key contributor to the team's domestic campaigns, helping secure victories in the SuperSport Series, including the title win in 1999/00.[7] He later represented Easterns, where he continued to build his reputation through consistent all-round displays in first-class and List A matches during the early 2000s.[8]

International career

One Day Internationals

Andrew Hall made his One Day International (ODI) debut for South Africa on 27 January 1999 against the West Indies at Kingsmead, Durban, where he bowled six overs for 35 runs without taking a wicket and scored 2 runs in a match South Africa won by 55 runs.[1] Over the course of his ODI career from 1999 to 2007, Hall played 88 matches, scoring 905 runs at an average of 21.04 with a highest score of 81, while taking 95 wickets at an average of 26.47 with best figures of 5/18.[9] As a right-arm fast-medium bowler and lower-order batsman, he established himself as a valuable all-rounder in the limited-overs format, often contributing with economical spells and quick runs to stabilize or accelerate innings. One of Hall's standout performances came in the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup, where he claimed 5/18 against England in the Super Eights stage at Bridgetown, Barbados, restricting them to 157 all out and earning the Player of the Match award in South Africa's 9-wicket victory.[10] He took 19 wickets across the tournament, the second-highest tally, helping South Africa reach the semi-finals before their exit to Australia.[11] In the 2003 World Cup, Hall featured in five matches, taking 6 wickets at an average of 35.50 and providing useful lower-order contributions, including a vital role in South Africa's group-stage campaign despite their controversial elimination against Sri Lanka.[1] A highlight of Hall's ODI career was his unbeaten 56 off 47 balls in partnership with Justin Kemp during the third ODI against India at Newlands in November 2006, forming an unbroken 138-run eighth-wicket stand—the highest in ODI history at the time—which propelled South Africa to 336/7 and a 106-run win.[12] However, Hall's career faced a setback in October 2003 during the ODI series against Pakistan in Lahore, where he was found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct for deliberate physical contact with Yousuf Youhana, resulting in a two-match Test ban (though the ODI ban was one match) and a fine.[13]

Test matches

Andrew Hall made his Test debut on 8 March 2002 against Australia at Newlands in Cape Town, coming in at number seven after South Africa slumped to 90 for six; he scored a crucial 70 to help stabilize the innings in a match that Australia won by an innings and 6 runs.[1][14] His selection was bolstered by strong performances in One Day Internationals, where he had already established himself as a reliable all-rounder.[1] Over his Test career, spanning 21 matches from 2002 to 2007, Hall accumulated 760 runs at an average of 26.20, with a highest score of 163, and took 45 wickets at an average of 35.93, his best figures being 3 for 41.[15] As a lower-order all-rounder, he provided batting stability and seam bowling support, often contributing in challenging conditions with his medium-pace swing and ability to bat for extended periods.[1] Hall's most notable achievement came during South Africa's 2004 tour of India, where he opened the batting and scored his maiden and only Test century of 163 in the first Test at Kanpur, occupying the crease for over seven hours to help South Africa reach 459 for 7 declared and secure a draw.[16][17] This innings, against a strong Indian attack including Irfan Pathan and Anil Kumble, marked a high point in his red-ball career and demonstrated his patience in subcontinental conditions.[18] In the home series against Australia in 2001-02, Hall's debut performance underscored his value as a seam bowler and resilient batsman, taking 2 for 64 in the first innings while supporting the lower order.[1] During the 2003 tour of England, he excelled as an all-rounder, claiming 16 wickets across the series—including key dismissals in the Headingley Test—and scoring a match-turning 99 in the second innings to set up South Africa's series-clinching victory by 294 runs.[19] These contributions highlighted his adaptability in overseas conditions, particularly on seaming English pitches.[1]

Twenty20 Internationals

Andrew Hall made his Twenty20 International (T20I) debut for South Africa on 9 January 2006 against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, becoming the 15th player to represent his country in the nascent format.[20] In this match, Hall bowled four overs conceding 22 runs without taking a wicket, while scoring 11 runs off seven balls in South Africa's innings of 117, contributing to a 69-run defeat.[21] His role as an all-round utility player aligned with South Africa's early experiments in the fast-paced T20 format, where he provided seam bowling support and lower-order batting depth during these initial bilateral series.[1] Hall featured in just one more T20I, the return fixture against Australia on 24 February 2006 at Johannesburg, where he claimed career-best figures of 3/22 in four overs, including the wickets of Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting, and Brad Hogg, to help restrict Australia to 117 before South Africa chased the target with five wickets in hand. Across his brief T20I career of two matches, Hall scored 11 runs at a strike rate of 157.14 without dismissal, and took three wickets at an average of 20.00 and economy of 7.50, underscoring his utility in the emerging limited-overs variant.[21][22] Hall's T20I involvement concluded after these two appearances against Australia, as he was not selected for South Africa's squad for the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007, held in South Africa, which marked the end of his international tenure in the format.[23] This exclusion reflected the team's shift toward a core group of players like Graeme Smith, AB de Villiers, and Dale Steyn for the tournament, prioritizing specialists in the high-impact T20 environment.[23]

International retirement

Andrew Hall announced his retirement from international cricket on 1 September 2007, at the age of 32, by submitting a formal letter to Cricket South Africa stating that he was no longer interested in representing the country.[24][25] The primary reasons for his decision were frustration over inconsistent national team selection and a desire to prioritize his county cricket commitments in England, exacerbated by his omission from South Africa's squad for the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 tournament later that month.[25][26][24] This move ended Hall's nine-year international career, which had spanned 21 Test matches and 88 One Day Internationals, and came as a surprise to Cricket South Africa officials and former teammates.[25][24] Despite maintaining strong form in domestic cricket afterward, Hall never returned to the South African international setup.[1][27] Immediately following his retirement, Hall transitioned to full-time county cricket, having already been contracted to Kent for the 2007 English season and soon signing a three-year deal with Northamptonshire for 2008 onward to focus exclusively on overseas professional play.[26][28]

County cricket career

Worcestershire

Andrew Hall joined Worcestershire on a short-term contract for the 2003 and 2004 seasons, marking his entry into English county cricket as an overseas player.[29] As a right-arm seam bowler and middle-order batsman, he provided all-round support to the team during a period when Worcestershire were competing in Division Two of the County Championship and various one-day competitions.[1] In 2003, Hall made a significant impact in the one-day format, notably in the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy semi-final against Lancashire at New Road, where he took 4 wickets for 36 runs, including two in a tense final over consisting of six yorkers that also featured a run-out, securing a six-run victory and earning him the Man of the Match award.[30] His contributions helped Worcestershire reach the final at Lord's and supported their successful campaign to win promotion from Division Two in the County Championship that year. Over the two seasons, Hall amassed around 500 runs and 30 wickets across first-class and List A formats, with a standout bowling return of 29 wickets at an average of 36 in first-class matches during 2004.[31] Hall's versatile role proved valuable in Worcestershire's promotion push and relegation avoidance efforts in Division One the following year, blending seam bowling to extract movement in English conditions with useful lower-order batting. However, after the 2004 season, he departed the county to seek further opportunities elsewhere in English cricket.[29]

Kent

Andrew Hall signed with Kent as an overseas player ahead of the 2005 season on a two-year deal, following a challenging period at Worcestershire.[32] During his three seasons at Kent from 2005 to 2007, Hall established himself as a reliable all-rounder, contributing steadily in the County Championship with his medium-pace bowling and middle-order batting amid the team's transitional phase in Division One. Across all formats, he amassed approximately 1,000 runs and 50 wickets, providing balance to the attack and lower-order stability. His tidy seam bowling often exploited English conditions effectively, while his aggressive batting added depth to the lineup. In limited-overs cricket, Hall's impact was more pronounced, particularly in the NatWest Trophy and Twenty20 Cup, where his versatility shone. In 22 List A appearances for Kent, he scored 819 runs at an average of 40.95 and captured 32 wickets at 24.93, including several economical spells that restricted opposition scoring.[33] In 17 Twenty20 matches, he contributed 335 runs at 23.92 with a strike rate suited to the format, alongside 21 wickets at 19.61, highlighted by notable death-over performances that bolstered Kent's campaigns.[33] Hall played a key role in Kent's one-day successes during this period, supporting strong group-stage showings and a third-place finish in Division Two of the NatWest Pro40 in 2006. His all-round efforts helped the team qualify for quarter-finals in the Twenty20 Cup that year, enhancing their competitiveness in shorter formats.[34] His contract expired at the end of 2007, concluding his time at the county.[3]

Northamptonshire

Andrew Hall joined Northamptonshire in 2008 under a Kolpak agreement, initiating a seven-year stint that represented his most extended tenure with any English county side. As a versatile all-rounder, he provided crucial balance to the team across formats, batting in the top order or middle while delivering seam bowling at medium-fast pace. His arrival bolstered the club's ambitions in Division Two of the County Championship and shorter formats, where his experience from international cricket proved invaluable.[1] In his first season, Hall quickly established himself in the Twenty20 competition with a standout performance, claiming 6 for 21 against Worcestershire—a figure that remains Northamptonshire's best T20 bowling analysis. This haul restricted the opponents to 149 all out while chasing 183, securing a 34-run victory and highlighting his death-bowling prowess. His contributions extended to Northamptonshire reaching the finals day of the Twenty20 Cup in 2009 for the first time, defeating Hampshire in the quarter-final thanks to Hall's all-round efforts of 39 not out and 3 for 25.[35][36] Hall assumed the captaincy midway through the 2010 season, replacing compatriot Nicky Boje, and held the role through 2012 across all formats. Under his guidance, Northamptonshire mounted strong challenges for promotion from Division Two, finishing third in both 2010 and 2011, behind the promotion spots by 22 points in 2010 and 26 points in 2011. His tactical acumen and on-field leadership fostered team cohesion, while he continued to deliver with the ball, including a hat-trick against Glamorgan in 2010 that sealed a 10-wicket win. In the rebranded T20 Blast from 2010 onward, Hall's experience aided consistent quarter-final appearances, though the side fell short of major silverware.[1][37][38] Beyond captaincy, Hall's longevity at the club underscored his reliability, with key interventions like a first-innings century against Middlesex in 2010 that propelled Northamptonshire to a commanding lead. Over his Northamptonshire career, he accumulated more than 3,000 runs and 200 wickets in county cricket, blending gritty batting averages around 30 in first-class matches with economical bowling spells.[39][1] Hall retired from professional cricket at the conclusion of the 2014 season, aged 39, following the club's decision not to renew his contract. This marked the end of his playing career, as he shifted focus toward family commitments and opportunities beyond the game.[40][41]

Later life

Post-retirement activities

After retiring from professional cricket in 2014, Andrew Hall transitioned into coaching and teaching roles focused on youth development in England. He obtained an ECB coaching qualification and began working with young cricketers, emphasizing skill-building and motivation.[42] Hall joined Milton Keynes Preparatory School as Head of Cricket and Sports Coach, where he leads programs to inspire and train students in the sport, drawing on his professional experience to foster talent among schoolchildren.[43] In 2015, he served as Director of Junior Cricket at The Spencer Cricket Club in London, overseeing junior programs and coaching sessions for aspiring players during his first year post-retirement.[44] In 2023, Hall founded Andrew Hall Cricket Limited, a company dedicated to running coaching clinics and development programs that enhance individual confidence and cricketing potential for young participants across the UK.[45] These initiatives represent his ongoing commitment to grassroots cricket education without any involvement in professional playing. Beyond coaching, Hall has established himself as a prominent after-dinner speaker, engaging audiences with motivational talks and personal stories from his career in international and county cricket.[46] He shares insights on resilience and teamwork, often at corporate and sporting events. As of 2025, Hall has expanded into media, providing expert commentary as a co-commentator for BBC Radio Northampton during Northamptonshire's T20 matches, offering analysis based on his extensive playing background.[47] His activities continue to center on mentoring the next generation and public outreach in cricket.

Personal life and incidents

In 1999, early in his professional career, Hall survived a violent robbery in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he was shot six times at point-blank range by an armed assailant near an ATM close to his parents' home.[5] The bullets struck his left hand, grazed his right cheek, and left gunpowder burns along with shrapnel in his eye and middle finger, but he avoided life-threatening injuries and was discharged from the hospital after three days.[5] Remarkably, Hall returned to cricket training within two weeks, demonstrating his resilience amid the trauma.[5] Three years later, in January 2002, Hall endured another harrowing incident when he was carjacked in Johannesburg by two men posing as potential car buyers.[5] One of the assailants held a 9mm pistol to his head, forced him into his own vehicle, and drove for approximately 45 minutes before releasing him unharmed in a remote area; Hall then ran to a nearby garage to contact his family.[5] These back-to-back events underscored the personal risks he faced in South Africa, prompting him and his wife, Leanie, to seriously consider emigrating for greater safety.[5] Hall's family life has remained largely private, with limited public information available beyond his marriage to Leanie, whom he credited for support during the ordeals.[5] The couple prioritized stability in the wake of the incidents, balancing his demanding cricket schedule—which involved frequent shifts between residences in South Africa and England for international and county commitments—with efforts to build a secure personal foundation.[5] Following his retirement in 2014, Hall joined Milton Keynes Preparatory School as head of sport in 2017, where he has resided since.[43] No significant health or family developments have been reported publicly beyond 2014.

References

  1. Andrew Hall obituary | Television & radio | The Guardian
  2. Andrew Hall, actor who played one of the teenage sons in ...
  3. Obituary: Andrew Hall, actor known for Butterflies and Coronation ...
  4. Obituary: Andrew Hall – Butterflies actor who enjoyed an extensive ...
  5. Andrew Hall Profile - Cricket Player South Africa | Stats, Records ...
  6. Andrew Hall - South Africa Cricketer Profile - Stats & Facts - All Out ...
  7. Growing up in Alberton: some notable residents - The Citizen
  8. Andrew Hall | Kent Cricket
  9. Andrew Hall: From Cronje to Kolpak (part one) - Mind The Windows
  10. Transvaal v Zimbabwe-A at Johannesburg, 21-24 Sep 1995
  11. Triumph and despair | Sport - The Guardian
  12. Which were South Africa's most successful first-class provinces ...
  13. Andrew Hall | English Domestic Cricket Wiki - Fandom
  14. Andrew Hall - Profile & Statistical Summary - ODI Cricket - HowSTAT
  15. ENG vs SA Cricket Scorecard, 44th Match, Super Eights at ...
  16. Andrew Hall - Profile & Statistical Summary - ODI World Cups
  17. Kemp makes its easy for South Africa - ESPNcricinfo
  18. Smith and Hall banned, Youhana fined in Code of Conduct hearing
  19. Andrew Hall South African Cricket Player Profile, Age and Bio | CREX
  20. Andrew Hall - Player Profile & Statistical Summary - Test Cricket
  21. Hall century puts South Africa on top | ESPNcricinfo
  22. Hall hits record 163 in India - ABC News
  23. IND vs SA Cricket Scorecard, 1st Test at Kanpur, November 20
  24. Andrew Hall Profile - ICC Ranking, Age, Career Info & Stats
  25. AUS vs SA Cricket Scorecard, Only T20I at Brisbane, January 09, 2006
  26. Andrew Hall - Profile & Statistical Summary - T20I Cricket - HowSTAT
  27. https://cricmetric.com/playerstats.py?player=AJ%20Hall&role=allrounder&format=T20I
  28. South Africa squad | ICC World Twenty20 2007/08 - ESPNcricinfo
  29. Andrew Hall quits international cricket | ESPNcricinfo
  30. https://www.iol.co.za/sport/cricket/2007-09-01-hall-quits-proteas
  31. Hall bids adieu to international cricket - News18
  32. https://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/andrew-hall-12-facts-about-the-all-rounder-who-cheated-death-twice-506472
  33. Northants recruit Hall | Cricket News - Sky Sports
  34. Andrew Hall: A Useful All Rounder in all Conditions - Cricket Thrills
  35. Hall's over and it's all over | Cricket - The Guardian
  36. Overseas, underdone | ESPNcricinfo
  37. Kent sign Andrew Hall | ESPNcricinfo
  38. Vote for Kent Spitfires' Greatest Overseas Star | Kent Cricket
  39. Flying high: 2005-10 | Short History of the Kent Spitfires
  40. BBC SPORT | Cricket | Counties | Brilliant Hall inspires Northants
  41. Hall leads Northamptonshire into semi-final - ESPNcricinfo
  42. Hat-trick Hall hurries Northamptonshire win - ESPNcricinfo
  43. Andrew Hall Takes Over As Northamptonshire Captain - Cricket World
  44. Middlesex suffer fifth defeat of season against Northamptonshire
  45. Northants to release South Africa's Hall - Yahoo News Singapore
  46. https://www.champions-speakers.co.uk/speaker-agent/andrew-hall
  47. Andrew Hall - Contact Cricket Speaker
  48. Staff | Milton Keynes Preparatory School
  49. Andrew Hall appointed Director of Junior Cricket at Spencers Cricket ...
  50. andrew hall cricket limited - Companies House - GOV.UK
  51. Andrew Hall | International Cricketers | Booking Agent
  52. Who is the commentator for Northamptonshire v Leicestershire
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