Telemachus chopped from contract list (20 April 1999)

20 April 1999

Telemachus chopped from contract list

Trevor Chesterfield

JOHANNESBURG (South Africa) - Twelve months ago Roger Telemachus, was one of the brighter prospects in South Africa's efforts to bring class players of colour into the system.

He was selected for the tour of England and, after his bowling form in the limited-overs international series which also involved Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the tall Boland swing bowler seemed to be the fourth seamer in Hansie Cronje's pace attack. A Test debut on the England tour had been predicted.

Injured at New Road not too long before the opening tour match against Worcestershire. Telemachus has since become part of the scrap heap of talented players unable, it seems, to overcome the demands needed to make a successful comeback.

As it is Telemachus had been earlier selected for the tour of Australia but failed his pre-tour fitness test and Makhaya Ntini was slotted nicely into the gap.

Ntini remains but Telemachus, with six others, have been dropped from the list of players contracted by the United Cricket Board while Alan Dawson, who drew the short straw when the South African selectors were handing out accolades for World Cup team selection, has been added. Compensation of some sort, and for now a window into the team.

The retirements of Brian McMillan and Pat Symcox sees their name removed and a couple of other names which a year ago were in the selectors serious planning have also gone. A couple may return later, but it could be a hard road back.

So out go as well H D Ackerman, Adam Bacher, Gerhardus Liebenberg, Telemachus and Andrew Hudson who was in the special category. Trimmed to 17 the list, in a World Cup year, is lighter than usual but in keeping with selection policy strategy.

When it came to explaining Telemachus, Dr Ali Bacher, managing director of the United Cricket Board said the response for the player had been far from positive, losing out through his own lack of commitment.

Although his mentor Omar Henry had done what he could Telemachus had apparently shown little interest in working his way back into the team.

"I contacted Roger in February and explained the situation to him but unfortunately there hasn't been much response from him," the UCB managing director said.

Henry had been confident Telemachus would have been ready by January and be ready for the limited-overs series against the West Indies, but even this had run into problems and now has a lot of hard work ahead of him if he hopes to attract anyone's attention, including the Boland selectors.

A category: Hansie Cronje, Shaun Pollock, Gary Kirsten, Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Jonty Rhodes, Allan Donald.

B category: Herschelle Gibbs, Paul Adams, Mark Boucher, Lance Klusener.

C category: Dale Benkenstein, Steve Elworthy, Nicky Boje, David Terbrugge, Derek Crookes, Makhaya Ntini, Alan Dawson.

Source :: Trevor Chesterfield, Pretoria News