Benkenstein's plans to stretch A team's record

Centurion: Dale Benkenstein, more famously known for his high level of success as South Africas A captain than having a father who was more than a fair bat for Zimbabwe, also has an envious record as the A Team leader.

Meticulous and deep-thinking in his approach to the game, most of his A team plans have come together with a degree of impressive success under different coaches, the first of whom was Duncan Fletcher, whose allegiance has since been transferred to Team Englands cause.

In fact, under Benkenstein, South Africa A have yet to lose a match and in the last home series, against West Indies A led by Jimmy Adams, an emerging Mornantau Hayward first put the wind up visiting batsmen. And a look at the SuperSport Park pitch prepared for the four-day game against Sri Lanka A starting today he might repeat the dose.

``Wayward Hayward'' as he was labelled last season, has learnt a lot about direction as well as accuracy since this season started and 26 wickets is not a haul which can be ignored. Asking the question, perhaps, how far off a Test cap he is likely to be.

Benkenstein was busy in the nets yesterday though, working over in his mind who is likely to be the fourth seamer: himself, Neil McKenzie and even opening batsman Dog Watson was called on to turn his over at a pace a touch more brisk than he is used to in the club game. The skipper may have won the battle, but McKenzie gave a good imitation of what is required of a seamer if needed.

Hayward and Test cap David Terbrugge are expected to share the new-ball while Victor Mpitsang is the third fast to medium seamer in the squad. Hence, in the absence of an all-rounder who can bowl lively medium seam and swing, Benkenstein spent almost an hour bowling in tandem with McKenzie and Watson.

South Africas A batting is more in keeping with the side which played Sri Lanka A on the island last year than the side which was led by Nic Pothas against West Indies in Pietermaritzburg.

South Africas joint coaches Corrie van Zyl and Vincent Barnes are mindful of the record with the one defeat being against the Test and County Cricket Board XI on a cabbage patch surface in Durham in 1996 when John Commins was in charge.

The four-day outing also gives Pieter Strydom a chance to entrench his place in the side after steady performances the last couple of summers have finally been rewarded.

It has not been as simple for the Sri Lanka A camp, though. The departure for home of their vice-captain, opener Avishka Gunawardena with a groin injury, the illness of the skipper Navid Nawaz and uncertainty of who is going to open the innings has forced the tourists to delay announcing their side.

What is certain is that their one Test fast bowler, the genial Ravindra Pushpakumara, is going to open the bowling and he feels the pitch, with the reputation as being the fastest of the Test venues, will provide the batsmen with a tough battle in the pre lunch session.

It is a pity that much attention is going to deflected from the game by the Test in Harare.

Dale Benkenstein (capt), Mark Bruyns, Doug Watson, Neil McKenzie, Ashwell Prince, Pieter Strydom, Nic Pothas, Shafiek Abrahams, David Terbrugge, Mornantau Hayward, Victor Mpitsang. Twelfth man: Jon Kent.

Navid Nawaz (capt), Upeka Fernando, Pradeep Hewage, Shantha Kalavitigoda, Sajith Fernando, Nimesh Perera, Bathiya Perera, Tilan Samaraweera, Dulip Samaraweera, Lanka Silva, Niroshan Bandaratilake, Ravindra Pushpakumara, Sajeeva de Silva, Ishara Amarasinghe, Prabath Nissanka, Kumar Sangakkara.

Umpires: Karl Hurter and Johan Cloete

Hours of play: 10.30 am-12.30 pm; 1.10 pm-3.10 pm; 3.30-5.30 pm