South Africa: SuperSport Season Preview (pt2)

Centurion (South Africa) If you are one of those who subscribe to the Test status theory then watching the first class game in this country, at any rate, could become an extension of developing production line style players. Only there should be more to this season's SuperSport Series than checking the conveyor belt to see who among the modern stars will pop up and make the selectors take notice of their talent.

As it is there is a pretty good crop of under19 players around and one or two who are likely to make a dent in the selectors thoughts. But the production line argument, whatever substance it may have, suggests there is now no place for provincialism or winning trophies. Certainly the public are noticeable through their large absenteeism at A Section, and if figures area guide, to the day/night Standard Bank slogs.

It was Peter Kirsten, the Northerns coach who with his senior lieutenant, Chris van Noordwyk, felt while winning trophies was nice enough, their job was to present South Africa with top players for the Test as well as the South African A side. Do not be fooled though, that the rest of the players are there to make up the numbers. There is a lot more to it than that.

Yet, as South Africa battle to retain standards in an era where mediocre batting skills have been diluted by the limited-overs game, provinces trying to find top players 'of colour' to meet the quota system demands have been forced to rethink their policy. And signing West Indian and Kenyans is only a short-term measure to try and boost the transformation expectation of the politicians who have failed to look at how the game is developing from under19 level down: five to six years from now quotas should have been jettisoned for merit selection. Gauteng have made a stand to include 'two players of colour' in their A Section teams this season. It is a brave new world, but we know that all too well as the system tackles the problem it ignored for too long.

The idea, we are told by the national monitoring committee bossman, Andre Odendaal, is to open up the game and make it more accessible to all. It's a good idea, but just how good it is in term of strength against strength is another matter entirely. It works with the argument whether South Africa have 150 players who can hang the sign of first class players around their collective necks.

Yet, as we look at the provinces, the player movements and the minimal changing coaching scenario, there is still a feeling of solid backbone although how the new format will help maintain standards is another matter. It is the eleven provinces instead of the strength against strength policy which has created some concern, especially as there is a view that teams such as Easterns has become a type of boarding house for ^Sold boys' from other adjacent provinces.

If, as we believe, the UCB have gone for a compromise to satisfy themselves that they are not marginalising the stronger provinces, the creation of a second elite squad to compliment the 17 players already contracted by the UCB, may not be too far off either. This fringe squad could help the selectors prepare for what they feel will benefit the national team.

It is from the SuperSport Series, however, that Rushdie Majiet, the convener,

and the other five national selectors will find the talent to improve the depth of Hansie Cronje's team. So, which teams will line up for the Super Eights in December and January is just a few pieces of the puzzle the UCB have presented themselves with the idea of solving the strength versus strength problem. With the points earned in Pools A and B being carried over to the Super Eight Series competition is going to be tough in the lead up to the five-day final from January 28-February 2. The remaining three teams compete in a quaintly titled Shield Series.

One advantage of the starting with a concentrated SuperSport Series programme is that it should give the selectors a form guide for the first of the two home Test series South Africa play this year with the team for the game against Zimbabwe at the end of the month. Squads and possible final positioning are discussed below.

BOLAND: Quadric English, Evert Ferreira, Doug Gain, James Henderson, and Kenny Jackson, Donovan Koch, Louis Koen (capt), Charl Langeveldt, Justin Ontong, Steve Palframan, Henry Williams, Charl Willoughby, Bradley Player, Praveen Amre, Craig Wilson, Stuart McConnachie.

BORDER: Pieter Strydom (capt), Mark Boucher, Piet Botha, Wayne Wiblin, Brad White, Steven Pope, Geoff Love, Tyron Henderson, Dion Taljaard, Ian Mitchell, Francois Klopper, George Hammond, Vasbert Drakes, Laden Gamiet, Burton de Wett, Dumisa Makalima, Monde Zondoki

EASTERNS: Deon Jordaan (capt), Anthony Botha, Shakeel Ahmed, Andre Nel, Hussain

Mannack, Aldo van den Berg, Phillip Hearle, Dennis Smith, Tahir Jamal, Albie Morkel, Anthony Pollock, Pierre de Bruyn, Mark Mitchley, Mark Conyers, Phil Simmons

EASTERN PROVINCE: Mark Rushmere (capt), Shafiek Abrahams, Mark Benfield, Carl Bradfield, James Bryant, Dave Callaghan, Murray Creed, Graham Grace, Mornantau Hayward, Justin Kemp, Garnett Kruger, Lulama Mazikazana, Darren Moffatt, Wayne Murray, Mfuneko Ngam, Robin Peterson, Meyrick Pringle.

FREESTATE: Gerhardus Liebenberg (capt), Nicky Boje, Boeta Dippenaar, Hansie Cronje, Allan Donald, Andrew Gait, Louis Wilkinson, Kosie Venter, Joe Beukes, Gerard Brophy, Herman Bakkes, Morni van Wyk, Matthew Hoggard, Dewald Pretorius, Allan Donald, Wiaan Smit, Johan van der Wath, Sarel Cilliers, Victor Mpitsang, Chrisjan Vorster, Norman Sefuthi, Andre Abrahams, Chris Craven

GAUTENG: Clive Eksteen (capt), Adam Bacher, Sven Koenig, Ken Rutherford, Zander de Bruyn, Derek Crookes, Nic Pothas, Ryan Sierra, Dean Laing, Johnson Mafa, Dylan Jennings, Justin Engelke, David Terbrugge, Geoffrey Toyana, Andrew Hall, Walter Masimula, Renato Almeidal

GRIQUALAND WEST: Kepler Wessels (capt), Zahir Abrahim, Mickey Arthur, Pieter Barnard, Loots Bosman, Wendell Bossenger, Andre Botha, Finley Brooker, Craig Copeland, Willie Dry, Grant Elliott, Ottis Gibson, Martyn Gidley, Wayne Kidwell, Deon Kruis, Garth Roe, Patrick Symcox

NATAL: Dale Benkenstein (capt), Jonty Rhodes, Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener, Errol Stewart, Eldine Baptiste, Mark Bruyns, Doug Watson, Andrew Hudson, Gary Gilder, Craig Sugden, Robbie Macqueen, Goolam Bodi, Ross Veenstra, Jon Kent, Ahmed Amla, Ashraf Mall, Keith Storey, Wade Wingfield, Shaun Adam, Rudi de Vry

NORTHERNS: Mark Davis (capt), Rudi Bryson, Dirk de Vos, Gerald Dros, Steve Elworthy, Quentin Ferreira, Pierre Joubert, Neil McKenzie, Grant Morgan, Gift Pedi, Roy Pienaar, Mike Rindel, Jacques Rudolph, Greg Smith, Rudi Steyn, Quentin Still, David Townsend, Martin van Jaarsveld, Johan Myburgh, Alluhadien Paleker

NORTHWEST: Martin Venter (capt), Andrew Lawson, Morni Strydom, Hendrik de Vos, Glen Hewitt, Arno Jacobs, Craig Light, Mark Lavine, Thinus Enslin, Ezra Poole, Corrie Jordaan, David Pryke, Clint du Plessis, Neil Rossouw, Jannie Dreyer

WESTERN PROVINCE: Craig Matthews (capt), HD Ackermann, Paul Adams, John Commins, Alan Dawson, Lloyd Ferreira, Herschelle Gibbs, Mulligan George, Claude Henderson, Ryan Joffe, Jacques Kallis, Gary Kirsten, Paul Kirsten, Rashaad Magiet, Brian McMillan, Renier Munnik, Albert Nkomo, Ashwell Prince, Andrew Puttick, Roger Telemachus, Thami Tsolekile

Team prospects: Border: Last summer's surprise packet in reaching two finals yet choking at the last stretch and have since lost Richard Pybus who was credited with some of their success. Look a lively team and could still cause a surprise. Boland: After a couple of seasons of being the down at heel side of the competition the team from the wine growing district is starting to mature if only because some players have joined them with a little more experience; unknown in quality but have players of style. Easterns: One of two new teams in the SuperSport Series with Ray Jennings, one of those fired by Gauteng, this year's combination draws heavily on former Northerns rejects yet lacks quality senior players although West Indies Phil Simmons could provide some needed muscle. Eastern Province: A new captain in Mark Rushmere, a new coach in Adrian Birrell and Mornantau Hayward's fast bowling are three reasons why this side may survive into the Super Eight despite doubts about their four-day staying power and limited-overs qualities. Free State: They have the talent and the leadership, despite claims to the contrary, of making an impact on both trophies this season only their bowling attack is perhaps not as strong as it could be and may fail under pressure. Gauteng: Clive Eksteen has been handed the reins of a team which is perhaps the most transparent in the competition after a palace revolution which smacked of collusion and ulterior motives more akin to the Asian sub-continent that South Africa. Griqualand West: Kepler Wessels is anxious to pass the 25 000 runs mark and retire 'quite happily' at the end of the season but the rest of the side, which won the Standard Bank Cup crown last season shows how the minnows can also have bite.

KwaZulu/Natal: Have all the talent and plenty of promise with Dale Benkenstein as their leader, Phil Russell as their new coach and Eldine Baptiste joining the squad will not do any harm to improving their chances either; expect a major improvement.

Northerns: Their more recent impressive limited-overs record shows they are mistaken as a slogs side of some note; a more careful examination of their record shows that Peter Kirsten's shrewd coaching focus has the SuperSport Trophy in mind for this summer's campaign.

North West: The other rookie side which has shown steady improvement in a season which will test their capabilities and depth; early problems with their skipper Martin Venter's illness has led to a caretakership led by David Pryke.

Western Province: An interesting mix of youth and experience with a new coach in Vincent Barnes all aiming to make an impression on a provincial scene dominated by the transformation plans of the UCB yet have the promise to go far with all their top players

Predictions:

1: Western Province/Northerns

2:KwaZulu/Natal

3:Border/Free State

4:Gauteng 5: Eastern Province

6: Griqualand West

7: North West

8: Boland

9: Easterns