Lindsay positive over UCB development system

Johannesburg - One of the bold prophecies made a decade ago is about to come true when the selection of the South African side for the Under-15 World Challenge tournament in England is selected next month.

In the words of former South Africa Test wicketkeeper/batsman Denis Lindsay, the 'days of the quota system are over.'

It takes a lot for someone such as Lindsay to admit he was wrong but as convener of the selection committee handling the final trials at the Pretoria University's L C de Villiers Stadium from March 25 to 29, he felt the standard among the players of colour was such 'there is no longer a need for a quota system at this level.'

Although he did not list a possible final squad of 14 from the 42 players released yesterday, Lindsay admitted he had been 'more than surprised by the quality of player from all race groups.'

'Ten years ago I told Doctor Bacher it could not see a programme of this nature working. I could not see it coming through,' Lindsay said yesterday when he and the SA Under-15 manager, Hennie du Toit, released the squad at the UCB office.

'Well, I am pleased to say that I was wrong and if what has come through from the PG Bison Week back in December is an example we have no reason to worry over our long-term growth,' he added.

'I saw some exciting talent at the week. It was eye-opening that the boys of colour had come through so well. The 42 boys who have been invited have picked themselves for the final trials.

'Not only is it enhancing for the UCB that development has come through so strongly, and from a South African viewpoint we are very lucky that at this stage, the seed planted so long ago, it starting to bloom.

'This is not just window dressing,' he said. 'We have gone far beyond that with this age group. It is exciting to see.'

The tournament is to be held from July 26 to August 10 with South Africa drawn in Group B with Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe

The squad is: Z Abdullah (WP), J Booysen (Easterns), C Bowyer (Natal), M Dipha (EP), M de Vries (Boland), I Dollie (WP), S Govender (Natal), C Hendricks (Border), F Holtzhausen (GW), D Joubert (Gauteng), J Kotze (Northerns), P Laing (Gauteng), G Lewis (Natal), S Makangolo (Border), I Mmatali (Gauteng), T Mnci (SACD), D Molete (Gauteng), I Naidoo (Northerns), A Nederhoff (WP), B Nelson (EP), M Nteta (Natal), B Ntsaba (Border), A Penzhorn (Natal), V Philander (WP), W Plessie (Gauteng), C Pomela (Northerns), Q Samson (FS), W September (Boland), J Seroot (Northerns), S Scheepers (Northerns), M Silwana (EP), J Smith (FS), T Steadman (Natal), A Tsabalala(WP), M van den Berg (GW), J van Heerden (GW)), V van Jaarsveld (Gauteng), H van Schalkwyk (Northerns), K Vilakazi (Natal), D van Wyk (FS), M Walters (Border), R Wiesner (Northerns).