No surprises in South African team

There were no surprises in the selection of the South African Test party for India, announced on Monday, with Rushdi Magiet's panel resisting bringing Makhaya Ntini into the squad, although he may get a call up for the limited-overs international slogs following the second and final Test in Bangalore early next month.

The decision to recall Clive Eksteen, the Gauteng captain, again shows where South Africa's bowling weakness lies. Several months ago, Mike Procter admitted there was ``much concern'' among the selectors about the lack of spinners in the country.

Reintroducing a 33-year-old whose last Test was against England at the Wanderers four years ago when he failed to get rid of Mike Atherton during that epic innings, indicates the selectors are fairly desperate. He's had a fair season and as a left-arm orthodox Hugh Tayfield type floater, he is as steady as they come against batsmen who are anchored to the crease.

Yet, as he admitted, he has come on since his duel at the Wanderers with Atherton four summers ago with the aid of Rodney Ontong who was no slouch as a spinner. But in South African conditions, the former Glamorgan all-rounder did not win too many matches for Northerns.

Perhaps four years on, Eksteen with six Tests to his credit may find India a little kinder to him than on his first visit. He was hammered out of the attack at Gwalior on the historic visit of November 1991 with memories of being hit for two big sixes in a two-over spell which cost 18 runs was quite enough for Clive Rice. No doubt he will get more opportunity in Mumbai and Bangalore, venues of the two Tests.

Yet, listening to Magiet's explanation, Eksteen may be only going as cover for Paul Adams. ``If there are any problems with Paul Adams' fitness, we are confident he can do the job for us,'' said the convener of selectors admitting his selection was a ``short-term solution''.

As expected, Daryll Cullinan is back, Boeta Dippenaar is in the side instead of Jonty Rhodes along with Gary Kirsten and Allan Donald. It seems though the selectors, in sending back four and replacing them with five for the slogs, remembering the tour to Sharjah afterwards, are preparing for Dale Benkenstein, Neil McKenzie, Henry Williams and possibly Steve Elworthy and either Derek Crookes or Nicky Boje included in a 15-man squad to be named on Saturday night after the triangular series final at the Wanderers.

What is interesting is that Free State's teen-age leg-spinner Andre Abrahams is going along to learn a little about Asian sub-continent conditions. The squad is scheduled to arrive in India on February 16 and play the first Test in Mumbai from February 24-28.

The squad: Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten, Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Hansie Cronje (captain), Pieter Strydom, Lance Klusener, Shaun Pollock, Mark Boucher, Paul Adams, Allan Donald, Boeta Dippenaar, Clive Eksteen, Mornantau Hayward.