WHEN he finally arrives at St Lawrence this summer Kent can expect nothing less than 100 per cent commitment from their overseas professional Andrew Hall.

However, the vagaries of South Africa’s selection policy means even Hall is unsure when he will be free to join David Fulton’s new-look squad for 2005.

The all-rounder from Johannesburg has an eye-catching, all-action style that makes him a supporters’ favourite the world over, while his committed work ethic makes him equally popular with domestic team-mates or international colleagues – some of whom will be joining him in Canterbury.

Hall said: "I had a call from South Africa coach Ray Jennings telling me I had been selected for the tour of the West Indies, but I’m not sure what role I am going to play on the tour yet. Once we get together as a squad I’m hoping my role will be explained more clearly but it’s quite difficult to say right now.

"The selectors can’t keep everyone happy and for the last couple of games I’ve been the one left out, but this is international cricket and as long as the team wins I suppose I can’t complain.

"We are a unique country with unique circumstances so it would be wrong of me to comment on selection when I’m not sure of things myself."

Hall seems certain to miss Kent’s two opening championship games and a brace of totesport League games, but if he performs well in the Caribbean his county bow may well be delayed until Kent’s four-day clash with Northamptonshire at Wantage Road on May 19.

He said: "What I do know is that I’m in the squad for the four-Test series that finishes on May 1, but there are then five one-day internationals after that and I’m not sure if I will be involved in those.

"If that is the case and I am needed for the one-dayers, then we return to Johannesburg on May 17, so I will fly back out that same day and be with Kent by May 18."

Looking forward to his return to England, Hall said: "I made my debut for South Africa under Bob Woolmer, but Graham Ford, who is now Kent’s director of cricket, took over soon after and I spent a lot of good time with him.

"It was soon after the Hansie Cronje match-fixing thing broke out and when Herschelle Gibbs had been suspended, so I spent six months touring with Fordy and opening the batting for him. I know Graham well and I’m really looking forward to working with him again at Kent.

"Jaara (Martin van Jaarsveld) and I go back even further. We spent some time playing Lancashire League cricket a few years back, we’ve obviously played Test cricket together and in South Africa he plays just up the road at Titans, so we have become friends.

"If I can come to Kent and produce the type of cricket I know I’m capable of and fit into the side quickly then I see no reason why we can’t be successful. If I can take some wickets and score the runs when the guys need them most then I’ll be very happy."