C Bryden: Telemachus set to step up the pace of change (4 Aug 1997)

August 4 1997

Telemachus set to step up the pace of change

by Colin Bryden

GIVEN fitness and reasonable form, Roger Telemachus should start checking that his passport is in order. The Boland fast bowler seems a certainty to be catapulted into international cricket this season.

In the week that the National Sports Council demanded that sports bodies set a target of 40 percent black representation in national teams, the 24-year-old Telemachus has all the credentials to improve the racial ratio in the cricket squad. Makhaya Ntini, the 20-year-old Border fast bowler, is also in the queue for national honours.

Telemachus has an outstanding claim for a place in the squad that will tour Australia at the end of the year. He has proved that he is close to international standard and is regarded as an excellent bowler in limited overs cricket, which will be an advantage on a tour in which South Africa could play in as many as 11 one-day internationals.

Ntini's chance could come on the tour of England next year when there will be numerous three-day county matches in which he can establish his credentials.

Both fast bowlers have been working on special winter training programmes and have been included in the pre-season build-up which will culminate in the national squad's departure for Pakistan at the end of next month. Telemachus and Ntini will play in threeand four-day matches in Bloemfontein and Durban as well as in limited overs games involving the national squad. Telemachus, from Stellenbosch, played for the Western Province Nuffield team in 1992 and 1993. He taken 70 wickets in 25 first class matches at an average of 25.97 with a career-best of six for 21 against Griqualand West in Paarl last season. In one-day cricket his 37 wickets have cost just 19.81 runs each and he has conceded only 4.07 runs an over.

Telemachus toured England with the South Africa A side in 1995 but had to return early because of injury. A succession of injury problems has set back his career but it is hoped that improved training methods worked out by national team fitness adviser Paddy Upton will enable him to realise his full potential.

Ali Bacher, the managing director, said the United Cricket Board identified with the NSC's objectives. "The reality in South Africa, whether in sport or commerce and industry, is that we are all under pressure to have more black representation."

Dr Bacher said UCB president Krish Mackerdhuj, vice-president Ray White, selection convenor Peter Pollock, coach Bob Woolmer and captain Hansie Cronje had agreed on the need to tackle the issue. "It makes sense to send bigger squads on tours to create more opportunites for promising players."

The new plan has caused South Africa to amend its request to the English Cricket Board to reduce the number of three-day matches during the 1998 tour. "We wanted to play one four-day match between Tests instead of two three-day matches as in the past. Now we have asked for that to be one three-day game and one one-day match, which will give an opportunity for batsmen to have three innings instead of two and for more bowlers to get a chance to play."

Taking a line through this thinking, it is obvious Telemachus and Ntini have been earmarked.

Another plus factor for the two fast bowlers is the need to rest key players like Allan Donald, Brian McMillan and Brett Schultz as often as possible during the next two years when South Africa faces a gruelling schedule of 24 Test matches and numerous one-day games culminating in the 1999 World Cup.

Source:: The Sunday Times