South African provisional World Cup squad shows no surprises

The National Selection panel, under Convenor Omar Henry, have come up with no surprises in the 30 man provisional South African World Cup squad announced by Gerald Majola today 30 November.

Eric Simons was very happy with the selected squad and feels that, "If the balance is right there is enough talent in the 30 players for us to be confident of doing well at the World Cup", he said.

Of the squad selected Omar Henry believes that nine players (60%) standout as being automatic selections. He is confident that for the rest there is still chances to impress and past and current form will give these players ample opportunity to make their way into the final 15 to be announced at the end of December.

"Players like Andre Nel, Morne van Wyk, Arno and Davey Jacobs, Jon Kent and Alviro Petersen can call themselves unlucky not to have been included in the squad, but it shows that South African cricket is very healthy when we have players of this calibre waiting in the wings", Henry added.

Daryll Cullinan's public apology seems to have come just in time as he finds himself back in favour. "Daryll is a class player and when he fires he is one of the best around and we believe that he can still win matches for South Africa", said captain Shaun Pollock.

The full 30-man squad is:

1. Shaun Pollock (Captain) - KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins
2. Nicky Boje - Free State Eagles
3. Loots Bosman - Griqua Diamonds
4. Mark Boucher - Border Bears
5. Daryll Cullinan - Highveld Strikers
6. Alan Dawson - Western Province
7. Boeta Dippenaar - Free State Eagles
8. Allan Donald - Free State Eagles
9. Steve Elworthy - Northern Titans
10. Herschelle Gibbs - Western Province
11. Andrew Hall - Easterns
12. Mornantau Hayward - Eastern Province Jumbos
13. Jacques Kallis - Western Province
14. Lance Klusener - KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins
15. Gary Kirsten - Western Province
16. Charl Langeveldt - Boland
17. Neil McKenzie - Northern Titans
18. Makhaya Ntini - Border Bears
19. Justin Ontong - Boland
20. Robin Peterson - Eastern Province Jumbos
21. Ashwell Prince - Western Province
22. Jonty Rhodes - KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins
23. Jacques Rudolph - Northern Titans
24. Errol Stewart - KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins
25. Graeme Smith - Western Province
26. David Terbrugge - Highveld Strikers
27. Roger Telemachus - Western Province
28. Thami Tsolekile - Western Province
29. Martin van Jaarsveld - Northern Titans
30. Monde Zondeki - Border Bears

Changes to this squad can only be made due to injuries or external circumstances and has to be sanctioned by the International Cricket Council.