SOUTH African Test all-rounder Andrew Hall is hoping to return to Kent next year and help bring silverware to the club’s empty trophy cabinet.

Hall, who was forced to miss the climax of the 2005 campaign when he and fellow-Protea Justin Kemp were re-called to a squad training camp, says he would love an extended stay at St Lawrence.

The 30-year-old from Johannesburg has already made his wishes known to the club but, speaking from his home near Durban, he also sent a clear message to the club’s supporters.

"It’s a pity how things worked out but I think we can correct that in the next couple of seasons," said Hall.

"I absolutely loved my time at Kent and it was easily my best experience so far of playing cricket in the UK.

"My wife Leanie made loads of friends there and everyone, from the players, to the stewards to the supporters, all looked out for our well-being.

"I can’t give enough thanks to everyone for that because it is truly great for an overseas pro to go to a new club and to be made to feel so at home.

"I didn’t have to worry about anything, we were made to feel part of the set-up, almost as though I were a local player who had been with the club for years.

"You don’t know how much difference it makes when you can walk into an environment like that and just go play enjoyable cricket.

"We would love to come back to Kent, but obviously that’s down to the club and the cricket committee, but if I do come back then I’ll be looking to build on this first season and hoping to win us the trophy I damn well think we deserve."

Though centrally contracted to the United Cricket Board of South Africa, Hall hopes issues between his international board and Kent will be resolved following his and Kemp’s acrimonious return home.

Indeed, Hall was in constant touch with his county team-mates during those end-of-season games he was forced to miss.

He added: "I sympathised with the guys every day when I could get to speak to them.

"I felt for them and the club because I know what it’s like to have the heart ripped out of the side going into a crunch game.

"The guys had to double their efforts and try and make up for our absence and that was extra pressure on them at a time when it wasn’t needed.

"It was heart-breaking for me to miss the last couple of games and for us to finish up 5th because I felt we were much better than that.

"I felt we’d played a good brand of cricket all season, after all we thumped Nottinghamshire at their place and they had all their superstars playing."

Though clearly caught in the crossfire during the wrangle between his international and domestic employers, Hall is asking Kent supporters to try and see both sides to the story.

He explained: "It was a bit tough on me and ‘Kempy’ but in the end there were no ifs and buts about it really.

"The South African cricket board held the trump card and when they said they wanted us back then we had to go, me more so because I hold a national contract.

"They told ‘Kempy’ that they were looking at him for a national contract for the one-day side and that if he didn’t go back it might put that in jeopardy, so it was quite difficult for us and we couldn’t really fight it.

"But I’ve spoken to the new coach Mick Arthur plenty of times since and he said it would have been a total waste of time to have held the training camp without me and ‘Kempy’ there.

"He sees us as vital parts to the South African team so you have to see his point of view too."

Whilst disappointed that Kent finished the campaign poorly and without a trophy, Hall was stunned by David Fulton’s decision to relinquish the captaincy.

In voicing his support for the Kent skipper of four years standing, Hall added: "I received an email from David telling me his mind was made up and my initial reaction was to tell him to reconsider.

"It was a huge shock for me to get news like that because I thought Dave had had a good season captaincy wise.

"As a captain it’s quite difficult sometimes to get bowlers to work to your game-plan and to keep them happy if you work a rotational system as we did at Kent, but I think Dave handled that well and I take my hat off to him for that.

“I think Dave handled the attack phenomenally well and I told him when I left that it had been a privilege to play with him.

"Captaincy is often a 50/50 thing and sometimes you are hailed a hero and then the next week you make a similar decision, it backfires and the guys are unhappy with you.

“I thought he did himself proud and he shouldn’t look back and consider the season a failure."