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Hooper too expensive for South Australia

Former West Indies all-rounder Carl Hooper will head to England after he proved too expensive for the South Australian team.

"We have been having discussions with Carl about the possibility of him playing with the (state team) Redbacks but unfortunately we just can't afford him," South Australian Cricket Association state manager Greg Chappell said.

In a statement, former Australian captain Chappell said the most an Australian state player on a top level contract can be paid is A$40,000 plus match payments to give a total of about A$70,000 a year.

Hooper, who has been living in Adelaide with Australian wife Connie Tambakis and their infant son, had been offered substantially more money to play County cricket in England, he said.

"Unfortunately Hooper's market value is out of our league," Chappell said. "Carl wants to balance his life between cricket and family and he can achieve both those things in England."

Hooper missed the opening two Tests of the this year's four-match series against Australia in the West Indies because his son was ill.

The Guyana-born 32 year old made his debut for West Indies in 1987 and played 80 Tests and 182 one-day internationals before retiring from international cricket on the eve of the 1999 World Cup.

UNI