RAWTENSTALL officials have signed 'probably the only cricketer in the world to have been shot at point-blank range and lived to tell the tale'.

South African Andrew Hall was shot during a mugging at a cash point almost four years ago but put the experience behind him to establish himself as a one-day international regular.

And Rawtenstall can hardly believe they have picked up a pro of his calibre at such short notice.

The Transco Lancashire League club were rocked by the news just weeks ago that their pro for the last two seasons, Australian Matthew Mott, was not returning for the 2002 campaign.

And at a time when most other clubs had already announced their new pro, Rawtenstall were left with a search from scratch.

But they have landed the 26-year-old Transvaal player, who they at first thought would be out of their price range.

"We looked at him last season apparantly but we didn't think we'd be able to afford him," said chairman Brian Payne.

"Since Motty told us he wasn't coming back we have had agents ringing us up left right and centre about potential pros and we are delighted to get somebody of this calibre in such a short space of time."

Hall, who is a South Africa 'A' international, has played 26 senior one-day internationals, scoring a high of 81 against Sri Lanka.

In first class cricket he has played 41 games, scored 1,715 runs, with a highest of 153 this winter.

He has taken 117 wickets at an average of 25 runs per wicket.

South African journalist Peter Robinson said of Hall: "He is probably the only cricketer in the world to have been shot at point-blank range during a mugging and lived to tell the tale, Andrew Hall has seized the opportunity to play international cricket with both hands. Which is all the more remarkable considering that Hall took a bullet in his left hand as a mugger let fly six shots at him at an ATM machine late one night in 1998.

"Miraculously, the bullet lodged in his hand without causing serious damage and Hall recovered sufficiently to win a place in South Africa's one-day side against the West Indies in 1999.

"He played only one match and appeared to have slipped out of the selectors' minds until Australia arrived in April 2000 for three one-day games. With Herschelle Gibbs struggling for form, Hall was given a match as Gary Kirsten's opening partner.

"Against the world's fastest bowler, Brett Lee, Hall looked the part, scoring a composed 46 and it was enough to win him a place in the South African squad for Sri Lanka.

"With Gibbs now out of the picture because of his involvement in the match-fixing scandal, Hall resumed his partnership with Kirsten and against a Sri Lankan attack which included Muttiah Muralitharan on a turning wicket, he made a most impressive 81.

"An all-rounder who played indoor cricket for South Africa before breaking into the first-class game, Hall was initially seen as a bowler who batted down the order.

"As a tidy medium-pacer, he has opened the bowling for Gauteng on a semi-regular basis, but it has been his batting, combined with a wonderfully competitive approach to the game, that has given him international recognition. All things being equal, Hall has a bright future ahead of him."