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Symcox's June 7 testimony

MR DICKERSON: Then back to the proposal that was put in India. You've said that you yourself didn't report the matter to Mr Woolmer or to Management. Are you aware that it was in fact reported to Mr Woolmer?

MR SYMCOX: No, I'm not.

MR DICKERSON: Are you aware that it was in fact reported to Mr Goolam Rajah, the Manager?

MR SYMCOX: No, I'm not.

MR DICKERSON: Upon the return to South Africa, was there any inquiry or question directed to you, or as far as you are aware, other members of the team by the United Cricket Board or any other officials?

MR SYMCOX: Wasn't directed - no question was directed to me, and I'm not aware of the other players.

MR DICKERSON: As far as the question of Captaincy is concerned, you've indicated that there are decisions that you don't agree with. That was the case even when you were in the team, there were regular disagreements. Not necessarily hostile, there were regular disagreements about, for example, field placings. Is that correct?

MR SYMCOX: Yes.

MR DICKERSON: And on occasion those disagreements were resolved through the intercession of Bob Woolmer, who would sit down with you and Hansie Cronje and try and mediate to sort out the differences. Is that correct?

MR SYMCOX: No.

MR DICKERSON: Oh. I understand from Mr Woolmer that that was the case.

MR SYMCOX: Well, Bob Woolmer's not here to answer that, but Bob Woolmer - not that I can recall, was the mediator between Hansie Cronje and I.

MR DICKERSON: The point that I'm making ...(intervention)

COMMISSIONER: Mr Symcox, if I may just interrupt you. These differences of opinion, did they relate to times when you were bowling, and you wanted a particular field placing and the Captain wanted another one?

MR SYMCOX: I take it that's what you're referring to. If I was on the field and I wanted to be mid-wicket and Hansie didn't want a mid-wicket.

MR DICKERSON: Yes.

MR SYMCOX: And the Bob Woolmer would intervene?

MR DICKERSON: No, these were on broader lines about field placings when you were bowling. You had fairly firm views, Hansie Cronje had different views, and on occasion Bob Woolmer would intercede and try and talk to you and talk to Hansie and resolve the dispute.

MR SYMCOX: Not that I can recall.

MR DICKERSON: The point that I'm really making, and perhaps we can get to it in a more direct way, is that in any cricket team there are on-going differences of opinion about how things should be done. At the end of the day, the assessment of a Captain, ultimately, is his record. And I'd like to ask you this question, in view of Hansie Cronje's record as a Captain, how would you described his Captaincy?

MR SYMCOX: Hansie Cronje was the best Captain South Africa has had, in my opinion. His record speaks for itself and he lead us in a very, very tough time, through a couple of years, in tough circumstances, with a young team after Kepler had left us. And he performed magnificently for us over a couple of years. So Hansie Cronje's ability of Captaining a team is definitely not in question, as far as I'm concerned.

MR DICKERSON: I have no further questions, Mr COMMISSIONER.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR DICKERSON

COMMISSIONER: Mr Fitzgerald, anything in reply?

MR FITZGERALD: I have no re-examination.

MS BATOHI: Nothing, Mr COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER: Mr Symcox, thank you very much for your assistance. You've been very useful to the Commission, I have no doubt. Thank you.

MR SYMCOX: Thank you very much.

COMMISSIONER: ...(indistinct) see us starting another witness in those circumstances, so we'll adjourn this sitting and we'll continue tomorrow morning at 9:30.

COMMISSION ADJOURNS UNTIL 08-06-00 AT 9:30