Northerns battle for batting identity

Aldin Smith reverts to his role as an opening batsman at Centurion today when Northerns tackle Western Province in their crucial Super Eights series outing.

Having performed with moderate success for Northerns B in the position, the idea is to have Smith moves back into his preferred slot and correct the balance of the side against a particularly strong Province line up in what is a battle at the bottom of the log.

After a particularly bad mauling by Boland inside three days last weekend Northerns had to rely on veterans Roy Pienaar and Rudi Bryson to help pull their act together in the Standard Bank Cup game against Border in East London.

It was the sort of victory which Northerns had needed after three miserable performances during a period when, with their confidence shaken and well as stirred, the Titans needed to search deep to find the character to come back.

The result was their first win in East London in five seasons. Just the pick me up needed to revive their hopes of at least offering some form of a challenge to a Province side which has not performed too well this season.

Well, not as well as the talent they have within their ranks: four Test players along with a handful of SA A team stars make it what should be a potent side.

Certainly one which has a better ranking than their current bottom log spot. But that is how it can be in the often unpredictable world of the A Section where a side, defending their trophy, has fared with disappointment in their own ranks.

Province?s recent A Section record against Northerns favours Craig Matthews side, although under Peter Kirsten?s shrewd planning 12 months ago the combined talents of David Townsend, Quentin Ferreira and Steve Elworthy destroyed Province in both innings. It was an historic first win at Newlands and began the turn around after losing both opening A Section matches.

Despite Wednesday night?s success and Kirsten and the skipper Neil McKenzie being forced to restructure the bowling attack with Townsend?s injury, Northerns are in need of their batsmen to pull their act together. As it is Pierre Joubert earns his cap of the season with Greg Smith sharing the new ball with Elworthy.

Northerns: Rudolf Steyn, Aldin Smith, Neil McKenzie (capt), Martin van Jaarsveld, Gerald Dros, Dirkie de Vos, Johan Myburgh, Grant Morgan, Steve Elworthy, Pierre Joubert, Greg Smith. Twelfth man: Mpho Pedi

Western Province (from): Lloyd Ferreira, HD Ackerman, Ashwell Prince, Renier Munnik, Brian McMillan, Craig Matthews (capt), John Commins, Thami Tsolekile, Alan Dawson, Roger Telemachus, Rashied Magiet, Claude Henderson.