Paul Adams, who burst onto the international scene after only five first-class matches for Western Province in 1995-96, has announced his retirement from professional cricket.

A chinaman bowler with a unique action, famously described as resembling “a frog in a blender”, he took eight wickets on his Western Province debut against Northerns, earning him a call-up for South Africa A against England where he took 9 for 181 in the match. Six weeks later he became the youngest person to play for South Africa when picked for the Boxing Day Test at Port Elizabeth. He took eight wickets in the last two Tests of the series as South Africa won 1-0.