Net bowlers give South Africa lively welcome in Barbados

Fresh from their 69-run win over the West Indies in Trinidad, South Africa's cricketers were allowed the luxury of a voluntary net session on their first full day in Barbados. Another day, another island but the cricket begins again in earnest on Saturday when the tourists come up against a Barbados President's XI at the Kensington Oval in a three-day warm-up match.

Although captain Shaun Pollock is certain to be given a rest, he was one to head down to practise at the Police Cricket Club ground and tackle the off-cutters of Lance Klusener, Paul Adams' box of tricks and a barrage of quick stuff from three local pacemen.

Decent net bowlers were hard to come by for the South Africans in both Guyana and Trinidad, but Barbados clearly has no shortage whatsoever. The Police Club youngsters were not just super eager and seriously fast - they competed against each other for the prized wicket of the South African captain, by no means out of sorts with the bat himself.

They had their moment when Pollock was struck on glove and then body by a delivery that spat nastily off a length and offered the simplest of return catches to the shortest, but certainly quickest, of the three. Pollock not amused - the Bajans beamed.

The South African players' wives and girlfriends are due to arrive on Saturday, and with the next two Tests in beautiful Barbados and Antigua, who could possibly blame them? Their arrival is one reason some of the senior pros will be given the chance to rest their legs over the next few days. Daryll Cullinan needs no extra time in the middle at present, likewise Gary Kirsten, while Allan Donald has slipped into an encouraging rhythm early in the tour.

The match will provide Neil McKenzie with a chance to graft his way back into form. The right-hander, who struck two Test centuries during the South African summer, has looked as though he left his game on the Tarmac at Johannesburg International Airport, but is certain to be given another chance in the Third Test which starts next Thursday.

Nonetheless, Boeta Dippenaar will be desperate to impress, as well as make the most of a rare opportunity to pull on his whites on a tour which offers little playing time for those not making it into the Test XI. Andre Nel and Justin Kemp likewise. Jacques Kallis and Nicky Boje are both likely to play, although as specialist batsmen only.

The President's XI should provide decent opposition too. Captain Shivnerine Chanderpaul is one of six with Test experience, and there is also the carrot of a place in the thirteen when the West Indian selectors name their squad for the Third Test after the game.

South Africa (probable): Herschelle Gibbs, Boeta Dippenaar, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Mark Boucher (captain), Justin Kemp, Lance Klusener, Nicky Boje, Andre Nel, Paul Adams, Makhaya Ntini.

President's XI: Daren Ganga, Leon Garrick, Travis Dowlin, Shivnerine Chanderpaul (captain), Ricardo Powell, Ryan Hinds, Keith Hibbert, Reon King, Colin Stuart, Cameron Cuffy, Dave Mohammed.