SA selectors get the mix right

Centurion: As England were still in two minds yesterday about their bowling attack for the first Test at the Wanderers this week South Africas selectors did a patch up job for the game starting on Thursday.

With Jacques Kallis dodgy knee ruling him out until at least the third match of the series in Durban five weeks away and Allan Donalds suspect rib in jury forcing Rushdie Majiets panel to tuck Mornantau Hayward into the wings just in case, the argument of whether the use the extra seamer or the spinner should decide the final side Wednesday night or Thursday.

After announcing the team, with a 12th man, at Kingsmead in Durban on Saturday and the fiery Hayward as the stand by for Donald, there is little doubt Majiets national selection panel feel they have got most of the mix right and send the correct diplomatic message by appointing Hansie Cronje for the remainder of the season.

Well, until they sit around the table sometime during the slogs in February and announce the side for India and Sharjah. By which time they should have made up their minds they are not to quibble again over his leadership position.

Of more immediate concern, however, is whether to recall David Terbrugge for his fifth Test or give Paul Adams a run for what will be his 26th Test cap in a match which, being the first of the of series, is of major importance for both sides.

Majiet came across strongly enough with the sort of philosophy statement which should have been made back in August but has taken them almost three months to put together. Gary Kirsten and Herschelle Gibbs may not be the men in possession, but their experience is seen as the better option.

Thats the way the selection conveners thoughts came across when giving reasons for dropping Adam Bacher and reducing Boeta Dippenaar to the role of 12th man after the young Free State batsman had, in all fairness done little wrong in his two innings at Test level.

Gibbs was given an extended run when he was brought into the side almost a year ago in place of Bacher for the last four Tests of the West Indies series.

Naturally Terbrugge was quite happy to find himself included in the squad again, feeling he had put enough work into his performances in matches against Sri Lanka A and the England XI on consecutive weekends to draw attention to the selectors. ``Sure, it is good to be back again and to have earned their faith,'' he said.

Terbrugges last Test was against the West Indies at Newlands over the New Year after which he had an ankle operation and has slowly worked his way into contention.

Neil McKenzie, with scores of 62 and 87 at SuperSport Park this weekend, heads for Natal with Bacher and Nic Pothas as part of the South African A side to play Sri Lanka A in the three limited-overs matches.

As for the tourists, they are it seems, still debating who to draft into the side for the opening Test at the Wanderers. Gavin Hamilton or Andrew Flintoff for Alan Mullally and who for Phil Tufnell are some of the questions which their captain, Nasser Hussain declined, yesterday to shed any light.

``We need to have a good look at the pitch first before make any decisions,'' he said.