Cronje backs spin for final Test

Centurion - South Africa have discarded the pace barrage theory as a way of winning the final match of the series against England with Hansie Cronje taking the view that Paul Adam's left-arm has a major role to play.

This emerged when Cronje, under pressure to score a few runs himself, said Mornantau Hayward was not needed and Pieter Strydom had been brought into the team after Jonty Rhodes had failed his 5th Test fitness test.

With Strydom doubling as a second left-arm spinner, Cronje now has two spin options at a venue where traditionally there is good bounce. At least Strydom who led the first class batting averages recently with 641 runs as well as two centuries to his name, along with six half centuries, provides the consistency the selectors need in what is a crucial Test.

No doubt Cronje is thinking ahead to the India tour when Adams is going to be needed on the Asian sub-continent type surfaces. But right now he is also hoping the young left-arm spinner will get enough turn to become as big a threat as the four-man seam and pace attack.

With Jacques Kallis fit again the attack had become more balanced and, in Cronje's view the "extra string to our bow in a five-day game" with Adams being the extra option was preferable to the pace of Hayward.

The ability of South Africa's bowlers to dominate England's batsmen in the series has not been a matter of a study of each batsman before this series but since the 1994 tour of England.

South Africa's ability to dig deep when needed most in the second innings of the Kingsmead Test has been important turn around for the side. Coming out of that game with a draw seems to have mentally affected England at Newlands and it could be the same in Centurion.

South Africa's batting depth has also been important over the past few weeks and has done much to blunt whatever plan England have tried to come up with. Cronje agreed though that it was important for him to contribute to the side as a batsman as well, but even with the Test series already won the South African's were going to be as competitive as possible. He said this would stressed during last night's team discussion.

He agreed there was a danger of the side becoming too confident with the series already won and England, with mot much more than pride to play for, but there was a competitive feeling in the camp although whether it would be Allan Donald's last Test is another matter.

Amid speculation that he might retire after this match should he take the 10 wickets needed to reach 300 Cronje, who has played with Donald since he was 13, agreed it could become a little tough.

"When you have a problem it has always been nice to be able to throw him the ball, whether in Test or one-day match, to see what he can do," said Cronje. Yet there was a feeling Cronje wanted to contribute in some way, whether as a captain, bowler or batsman.

He was aware that each player in the side would go in with specific individual goals as for each player it was a matter of pride how they performed and he would be following that particular example.

Heavy rain late yesterday and during the night could hold up the start of play on the opening day.