Crookes says Cronje's decision surprised him

JOHANNESBURG, APRIL 16. South African off-spinner Derek Crookes has admitted he was ``surprised'' when disgraced former captain Hansie Cronje asked him to open the bowling in the final one-day match against India last month.

``I was completely amazed when I heard that my name had been mentioned. I've been following the whole thing in a state of shock, trying to remember if I ever thought anything was suspicious at the time. But I didn't,'' Crookes said on Saturday. ``I was certainly surprised when Hansie told me the evening before that I would be opening (the bowling) because earlier in the tour he had said that I would not even be considered for the new ball. But I love a challenge and even though it was a tiny ground with a fast outfield, I looked forward to it,'' Crookes said.

Crookes had been taking the new ball for his provincial side, Gauteng, in domestic matches before the tour but things did not work out well during the international when he conceded 53 runs during his opening six overs. ``I started well enough but unfortunately Tendulkar and Ganguly aren't the worst opening pair in the world and I ended up getting a bit of a smack. But I never suspected anything underhand, nothing at all. I'm still stunned by the whole thing.''

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Section  : Sport
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