South Africa's rotation plan hits a snag (1 February 1999)

1 February 1999

South Africa's rotation plan hits a snag

Trevor Chesterfield

South Africa's rotation plans have hit a snag for the remaining three limited-overs matches against the West Indies as decisions who is likely to play at Newlands comes up for debate between the selectors and the skipper Hansie Cronje.

While West Indies skipper Brian Lara has a real problem of his own with the arm injury still causing concern in the touring team's ranks, drawing the short straw system to see who is being left out seems to be the South African selectors best way of running the show. Which, it appears, does not entirely meet with Cronje's approval.

Allan Donald has rocked up at the team's hotel in the Mother City but Cronje was quick to throw a bucket of Sandy Beach water over rumours the Free State fast bowler was "back in the squad" and likely to play. "Not so," said Cronje. "AD (Donald) has come along to prepare for the tour of New Zealand."

There are more serious worries for Crone, Bob Woolmer, the coach, and the selectors to mull over.

Although Woolmer indicated at yesterday's practice at Newlands that the rotation system is still in "working order" you could have fooled, Henry Williams, Andrew Hall and Victor Mpitsang, for that matter. They have been used for a lot of net work and little else. Which is the folly of having too big a squad. On the process of playing at home venues, Gary Kirsten for Daryll Cullinan seems to be the popular theory. And perhaps Williams as well (if Boland can be classed as local).

Such woolly-minded thinking suggests Mpitsang gets his first game at Springbok Park in Bloemfontein on Friday, and Mike Rindel finally collects a recall for Sunday's bash at SuperSport Centurion.

There might be bigger plans in store for Steve Elworthy, however, should David Terbrugge's ankle injury prove to be more debilitating than it appears on the surface. There is some confusion whether Terbrugge had permission to play in the domestic day/night match against Northerns at the Wanderers on Friday night.

There had been no request from Peter Pollock or any of the selectors to rest Terbrugge until the tour to New Zealand as it was felt the ankle injury would be exacerbated should he play too soon.

Terbrugge is out of the match against Border tomorrow night at the Wanderers but the tall red-haired youngster has expressed the hope he would go to Kiwiland. He feels he needs to learn a bit more about fast bowling in different conditions and climates. Also he would like to get to know more about the country of his Gauteng captain, Ken Rutherford, and the land of the long flat vowel.

Terbrugge was to have joined Donald in Bloemfontein as the team prepared for the tour Down Under.

Lara had a practice session with a newly designed arm guard protector yesterday at Newlands and if the team's physio, Denis Weights comments are any guideline, it is a matter whether Lara feels fit enough to play.

The view is that with Philo Wallace so out of touch that his selection his highly unlikely, options such as Darren Ganga is being considered. Junior Murray was tried but failed as Shivnarine Chanderpaul's third partner of the series in the fourth match of the series.

Lara still feels the series can be turned around "if only we can bat better than we have" which has all been said before. There is the impression, however, he feels South Africa have seen only glimpses of the best West Indies can offer when they bat.

"We have the players who have the ability but time is running out ..." And that we know all too well as they face another defeat tonight. Pulling one back at Newlands and one back in Bloemfontein could make the sell-out at SuperSport Cuteurion a more interesting game on Sunday.

South Africa: Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Hansie Cronje (captain), Jonty Rhodes, Dale Benkenstein, Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher, Nicky Boje, Steve Elworthy, Gary Kirsten, Henry Williams, Victor Mpitsang, Pat Symcox, Andrew Hall, Mike Rindel

West Indies: Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Junior Murray, Brian Lara (captain), Keith Arthurton, Carl Hooper, Ridley Jacobs, Keith Semple, Nixon McLean, Neil McGarrell, Curtly Ambrose, Reon King, Philo Wallace, Darren Ganga, Rawl Lewis,

Source :: Trevor Chesterfield, Pretoria News