Peter Pollock rejects twin squad system (1 March 1999)

1 March 1999

Peter Pollock rejects twin squad system

Trevor Chesterfield

CENTURION (South Africa) - Peter Pollock has admitted that South Africa have long consigned the idea of selecting separate Test and limited-overs squads to the nearest rubbish tip as there is no alternative for experience. A former journalist who still has a sharp incisive mind when it comes to a nose for what a "good story is all about" the convener of national selectors found a plastic bag in which to drop the suggestion South Africa had changed their views on limited-overs policy.

It was his view that the current South African selection panel would not switch policy by switching captains because it was the "in thing" as the Australians had done. Pollock then pointed out where the system had failed and some countries, Australia included, were returning to have the "continuity captain".

Tall and spare as he was when opening the bowling fro South Africa, Pollock said England and Australia had realised the system of two captains would not work. This is why England (Alec Stewart) and Australia (Mark Waugh) had opted for single captains.

South Africa had not been keen on the two captain system as it was "all about continuity and disciplines" which you do not get by having two captains. "We could have gone that route with Kepler (Wessels) but decided against it," Pollock admitted at the media conference to announce the South Africa World Cup short list of 19 players at SuperSport Centurion yesterday.

"I don't think that any of us were entirely happy with the idea, but when you look at one-day and Test squads you have to look at their strengths and the key element here are the all-rounders.

"And here I am not discussing the mix-'n-match type player but the genuine all-rounder. They are key to the strengths of teams. When Australia had Richie Benaud, Alan Davidson, 'Slasher' McKay and Wally Grout they had a great side. The same with South Africa in 1970. The true strength lay in all-round ability and it showed," he said.

"The reason why our squad changes so little is that you have good Test players and who are also equally good in the one-dayers.

"Yet if you have the genuine all-rounder there is no need (at limited-overs level) to look for filling in with the bits and pieces player which is why some sides are stronger than others," he said.

Pollock also lifted the veil on matters such as consultation with Cronje )and the coach Bob Woolmer) for selecting the right side and how the selection process was carefully thought through. Now the time for experiment was over and the chances are that South Africa are going to revert to the Herschelle Gibbs-Gary Kirsten partnership until at the World Cup had ended on June 20.

He also said that although there were 15 in the squad, the team was essentially made up of an 11 and four reserves, but any one of the reserves had to be ready, at a moments notice, to take over if there was an injury. This included the final at Lord's on June 20.

"There is a lot of pressure involved in these tournaments which is why you need your experienced players. But anything can happen and you need to have a fit stand by ready to take over," he added.

A player such as Dale Benkenstein, seen as a future captain by some, was learning from the experience in New Zealand as he had in Kuala Lumpur (Commonwealth Games) and Bangladesh during the Wills Trophy tournament.

"There is a big jump from filling the role of a Cullinan or a Kirsten but there is where the player had top be ready to step into an emergency," he added.

The same also goes for Steve Elworthy, no doubt, who has basically warm the "reserve bench" this tour and unlikely to catch a Test place or find his way into the LOI squad for the remaining three matches against New Zealand later this month.

Source :: Trevor Chesterfield, Pretoria News