Northerns face new challenge

Centurion (South Africa) - Northerns have started their A Section trophy quest this summer the way they ended it last season: on the victory trail. Which makes their coach Peter Kirsten happy enough as the four-day outing against Gauteng resumes the neighbourly rivalry in Centurion on Thursday in the SuperSport Series. What can be expected later today, however, is the confirmation of a squad of 12. Not that any changes are anticipated this early in the season although the Northerns B side did a pretty good job in stoking the home fires while the seniors, better known as the Titans gave little brother Easterns a taste of what the A section is all about with a victory by 222 runs with a day to spare.

Results of both Northerns teams this weekend were equally impressive: the B side showed remarkable depth in coming back from 146 for seven to take a first innings lead against North West. Winning that Pool 2 UCB Bowl game with a power second innings batting display led by Ernest Mokoenyane and carried on by schoolboy Jacques Rudolph, the national under-19 vice-captain, is an indication of the solid foundation the hard work the Northerns coaching system has created. In fact the so-called `development' trio of Mokoenyane, Aldin Smith and Allahudien Paleker have shown how, in the game against North West B, exposure to a higher level of the game and quality coaching has improved their batting abilities and skills.

Graham Ford, the new national coach, has long admired the modern Northerns approach to the game and how the creation of the union?s structure of excellence was an ideal role model for other provinces. He was not shy, either, when saying that Kirsten?s decision to give such players as Johan Myburgh, judged `recruit of the match' at Willowmoore Park, a chance at A Section level, had his support. ``We see it so often,'' said Ford. ``Good young players not given the chance until it is too late. Peter (Kirsten) has taken a decision, and it is the right one, to give young Myburgh a chance to show what he can do.''

There was also a view, supported by a former international captain, that Northerns selection panel was in touch with reality. The A team coach, B team coach (Chris van Noordwyk) and the captain oversaw the selection of the Titans side instead of a top-heavy, often cumbersome panel which belonged to a past era. Myburgh and Rudolph are part of that modern era and chances are that before this season has finished both will be permanent fixtures in the senior ranks with higher honours looming. But as thats the opinion of a couple of national selectors who is to argue with them?