R Williams: South Africa News (11 Oct 95)

CRICKET-SA-BRIEFS by Ray Williams

Any Zimbabwean spies watching South Africa`s gruelling practice session at the Harare Sports Club on Wednesday could be forgiven for thinking that paceman Fanie de Villhers has been "hamming" it up. Ruled out of Test contention because of a nagging hamstring injury, De Villiers emerged from coach Bob Woolmer`s 3-1/2 hour "sweatbox" with flying colours. "If he`s not fit, I don`t know who is," said one interested by- stander. But De Villiers himself was quick to quell any rumours that he might be making an unexpected Test appear- ance. "Definitely not," he said. "I will only be ready for the onedayers." So much as he would like to play-- he turns 31 on Friday -- Vinnige Fanie is not prepared to make any premature come-back. "We`ve got an important series against England coming up," he said. "I don`t want to miss out on that." And as for his seemingly miraculous recovery..."well, I would put it down to some anti-inflammatory tablets," he explained. "I didn`t feel half as stiff today as I did on Tuesday, but by tomorrow the old bones will probably be creaking again." *** While De Villiers might be quite happy to miss out on this week`s cricketing showpiece one man who would give his eye-teeth for a Test berth is Andrew Hudson. Once regarded as a dead cert to open the batting for South Africa, Hudson has reached the stage where he knows his job is on the line. Hudson`s fall from grace has been both swift and alarming. In an attempt to restore his flagging confidence the national selectors have tried him at No 3...a role he might have to play against Zimbabwe again. With young bloods like Rudi Steyn and Gerhardus Liebenberg knocking on the top-order door Hudson knows he is walking a tightrope and he`d be happy to bat at six if asked to. All he wants is a chance to reestablish himself as a Test star. At 30 time is not on his side, but the likeable Natalian is determined to come good. He realises just how much is at stake. So much so that he turfed in his job last year to devote all his time to cricket. "A home series against England must be every player`s dream," he said. "Anybody would die to play in it. And then there`s still the World Cup to follow. "One couldn`t ask for a bigger carrot to be dangled." *** Talking of carrots, for once the UCBSA deserve a bunch of them: "A" for insisting the touring party fly economy and "B" for booking them into a hotel which fell well below their needs. There was little the players could do about "A" but "B" they quickly sorted out by packing their bags and moving to another Harare hostelry. Board ruling apparently is that teams have to fly economy on all trips below 5000 km. Fine, but having to eat cold breakfasts etc. certainly doesn`t fit in with all the latest Board stipulations on carbohydrates and special diets.

Sapa