Davis axed again in Titans shake up

Centurion: It is shake up time again in the Titans camp and Mark Davis has been dropped as captain, for a second successive season, and on the eve of the Northerns Super Eights series game against Boland starting in Centurion today.

What comes as a bigger surprise though is that Davis has been replaced as captain by the 24-year-old Neil McKenzie instead of Gerald Dros and is one of three changes in the side which also sees Mopho Pedi being rested and Aldin Smith and Grant Morgan brought into the senior ranks along with the return of all-rounder Dirkie de Vos.

Also out is Quentin Still with Johan Myburgh brought into the four-day squad and in the absence of a recognised opener, the SA under19 batsman could find himself as Rudolf Steyn?s partner in the four-day game against Boland.

Davis is one of three provincial captains to depart as the Super Eight and lower division Shield Series games which start tomorrow. Free State?s leadership has moved from Gerry Liebenberg to Nicky Boje as they meet Border while Pat Symcox steps down as Griqualand West captain and that journeyman left-handed batsman Martyn Gidley assumes control.

Now 28, Davis went through a similar trauma last summer when dropped after the opening A Section game of the season against Eastern Province. A lack of batting form was cited last season as the reason for his axing a year ago.

Yesterday Peter Kirsten, the Northerns coach, felt there was a problem with the team?s balance and under the circumstances replaced Davis with McKenzie, a victim of feuding factions in Gauteng last year and forced his career move which has resulted a dramatic improvement is his career.

There were also problems in the wicketkeeping area and although Pedi tried his best there were times when he was found wanting and Wednesday night?s showing in the opening Standard Bank Cup match of the season could have also persuaded Kirsten to give Smith a chance.

Kirsten said while Davis was unhappy at being replaced at this stage of the season he understood the position. Davis wished the team well and as was the case last season would ``work hard to win my place back in the side''.

Kirsten no doubt has faith in McKenzie?s leadership abilities, as evidenced by his pertinent comment that ``he?s done the job before and shown himself to be a capable leader''.

A mature young man McKenzie led the SA under-19 side in England in 1995 and was captain of 1994/95 SA Schools team. Whether the step up from schoolboys to senior ranks is going to affect his batting skills is another matter. It is an important game for the young and for Northerns against a side which is ahead of Northerns on the Super Eights log.

Davis may yet find himself leading Northerns B in a crucial UCB Bowl game against Natal B next weekend as Northerns B are leading their pool log as well as the limited-overs series and almost assured of playing in one final or possibly two B team finals early in the new year.

Boland arrive at SuperSport Park today with a far better record than of old with Pravin Amre at four stabilising the middle order behind the new captain, Louis Koen, who brings with him the hard as nails attitude in the Kepler Wessels mould and the sort of seasoned campaigner so crucial to the cause of a side whose players, at the end of recent summers, ended plucking splinters from their hands from regularly grasping the wooden spoon.

The one concern for interim coach and manager, Andre Bruyns, is the fitness of Charl Langerveldt. Neil Carter, who has had some success with the Boland B side, is on stand by and joined the team last night.

The teams: Northerns: Rudolf Steyn, Dirkie de Vos, Neil McKenzie (capt), Johan Myburgh, Martin van Jaarsveld, Gerald Dros, Aldin Smith, Grant Morgan, Steve Elworthy, Greg Smith, David Townsend. 12th man: Pierre Joubert.

Boland (from): Doug Gain, James Henderson, Louis Koen (capt), Pravin Amre, Kenny Jackson, Justin Ontong, Steve Palframan, Bradley Player, Charl Langeveldt, Henry Williams, Charl Willoughby, Neil Carter. 12th man: Donovan Koch Hours of play: 10.00-12.10, 12.50-3.00 pm, 3.20-5.30.