He played no Tests on tour, seemed merely to underline his country's barren reputation for producing slow bowlers and spent most of the time fetching and carrying for his colleagues.

So it must have amazed many of his critics when he walked off with the man-of-the-match award after South Africa won the final Test here in Faisalabad, and with it the series 1-0 against Pakistan.

It was not only for his bowling, which produced three wickets in 14 balls at the end of the match to skittle Pakistan out for 92, but also for the half-centuries he hit in both innings on what was always a difficult batting surface.

Symcox also played another, unseen role - that of psychological motivator to a team that had almost written themselves off on the third evening. At the time, Pakistan needed just another 142 runs to win.

While some were openly whingeing about the way the breaks had gone against them, Symcox was bolstering their egos. Historic fightbacks rolled off his tongue like battle honours as he harangued his colleagues. ``Remember Headingley '81 - Botham's game. Remember Sydney '93 when we beat the Aussies by five runs!''

Always free with advice to the opposition, he did not hesitate - within earshot of the Pakistani batsmen - to add a short soliloquy on how Sri Lanka had won a Test here in similar circumstances two years ago.

Captain Hansie Cronje said: ``Pat believed deep down in the possibility of winning. He made us believe in ourselves again. His mental attitude was as important to the team as what he did with bat and ball.''

Afrikaner by birth despite his Anglophone name, Symcox was born near the ``biggest hole in the world'' - the Kimberley diamond mine.

Until the beginning of this year he worked as a marketing consultant for a sports group. Then, at the age of 37, when many players are giving up the game, he gave up his outside work to concentrate full-time on a career in cricket.

That may have been the catalyst. Symcox now spends five hours a day practising. He said: ``Bowling is my job, batting is still my hobby.''

IN Durban, when South Africa held a training camp prior to this tour, Symcox recalled how Cronje stopped practice and took him out of the nets. ``Listen, Pat, you are a better batsman than that. Please, we need you to make a contribution.''

Symcox is intense about cricket. At the press conference after this match, as he talked about his emotions, he was nearer to tears than any match-winner I have seen.

So Cronje's cajoling words went deep. As did a meeting with Ali Bacher before this final Test. Dr Bacher, head of the South African board - and almost a father-figure to the players - called Symcox to his hotel suite.

``Pat,'' he said, ``how many times have you you won a man-of-the-match award?'' Symcox mumbled about how he always felt he made a contribution. ``No, Pat, I want to know how many awards have you won?''

Dr Bacher, now back behind his desk in Johannesburg, paid his due with a congratulatory message to Symcox after the Test.

Among the veterans by now, he feels he is still improving. Asked what he puts it down to, Symcox - a man known for his enjoyment of the material pleasures - replies impishly ``clean living''.

He is determined that when South Africa come to England next summer he will be in the party - and this time in the side too. ``We have got some unfinished business,'' he says firmly. I rather think he has some personal scores to settle too.