Cricinfo - Players and Officials

Full name Paul Regan Adams
Born January 20, 1977, Cape Town, Cape Province
Current age 31 years 303 days
Major teams South Africa, Cape Cobras, Western Province
Nickname Gogga
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Slow left-arm chinaman

Batting and fielding averages

Mat

Inns

Runs

Ave

100

Tests

360

9.00

1012

35.57

ODIs

33*

16.50

124

53.22

First-class

141

156

1752

17.17

List A

180

33*

11.25

Twenty20

17*

17.66

155.88

Bowling averages

Mat

Inns

Balls

Runs

Wkts

BBI

BBM

Ave

Econ

Tests

8850

4405

134

7/128

10/106

32.87

2.98

66.0

ODIs

1109

815

3/26

28.10

4.40

38.2

First-class

141

27102

13456

412

9/79

32.66

2.97

65.7

List A

3156

2262

3/12

26.92

4.30

37.5

Twenty20

207

239

3/19

26.55

6.92

23.0

Career statistics

Test debut

South Africa v England at Port Elizabeth, Dec 26-30, 1995 scorecard

Last Test

New Zealand v South Africa at Hamilton, Mar 10-14, 2004 scorecard

Test statistics

ODI debut

South Africa v England at Cape Town, Jan 9, 1996 scorecard

Last ODI

South Africa v Zimbabwe at Southampton, Jul 10, 2003 scorecard

ODI statistics

First-class debut

1995/96

Last First-class

Griqualand West v Western Province at Kimberley, Mar 13-15, 2008 scorecard

List A debut

1995/96

Last List A

Cape Cobras v Eagles at Paarl, Feb 24, 2008 scorecard

Twenty20 debut

Titans v Western Province Boland at Centurion, Apr 18, 2004 scorecard

Last Twenty20

Eagles v Cape Cobras at Bloemfontein, Feb 19, 2006 scorecard

Paul Adams broke onto the scene as an 18-year-old with his "frog in a blender" action that so tormented England when they visited South Africa in 1995-96. The action itself contributed to his burgeoning wicket-haul for at least a year as batsmen were hopelessly caught in the blurry glare of the impossible contortion. But as soon as the element of surprise wore off, Adams often suffered for a lack of variety and his appearances for South Africa grew fewer. When first discovered by former South Africa great Eddie Barlow, Adams knew nothing of googlies and chinamen, calling his deliveries simply "inspinners" and "outspinners". His head pointed skyward at the moment of delivery, yet he appeared to be able to change his trajectory if the batsman used his feet. Although photographic evidence suggested otherwise, Adams said he could see enough of the batsman to know what he was doing. His career was hampered by injury at crucial times, and he lost his No. 1 slow-bowler spot to Nicky Boje, but no left-arm spinner has taken more Test wickets for South Africa. However, his last Test appearance came in 2004 and then South Africa looked elsewhere on a permanent basis. He even drifted out of first-class cricket before announcing his retirement in October 2008. Known as Gogga, meaning insect, or simply Goges to his friends, Adams was a bundle of energy, with a taste in music some of his team-mates found hard to understand.
Neil Manthorp

Mar 11, 2004

Paul Adams in action against New Zealand © Getty Images

Mar 11, 2004

Paul Adams clean bowled © Getty Images

Mar 9, 2004

Paul Adams in the nets © AFP

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