Transformation v Selection
The problem with Norman Arendse, Cricket South Africa's president, vetoing the squad to Bangladesh and producing his own squad was not one of transformation but of selection, writes Neil Manthorp in supercricket website.
Nishi Narayanan
25-Feb-2013
Faras Ghani
The problem with Norman Arendse, Cricket South Africa's president, vetoing the squad to Bangladesh and producing his own squad was not one of transformation but of selection, writes Neil Manthorp in supercricket website.
The two changes that he made to the 'official' squad to form the 'Arendse squad' were quite possibly the least radical anybody in South Africa could have come up with. Herschelle Gibbs in for Neil McKenzie and Charl Langeveldt in for Andre Nel. Gibbs and Langeveldt? Herschelle has over 300 international caps and Langers has been established international cricketer for five years and has earned over 50 one-day caps. Where was Lonwabe Tsotsobe and Yousuf Abdullah in Arendse's squad? Where was Henry Davids and Ahmed Amla? At the beginning of the week Arendse spoke of "giving the youngsters a chance...if not against Bangladesh, then when?" His solution was to recall two 33-year-olds, one of whom - Herschelle - is the oldest nationally contracted player and will celebrate his 34th birthday on the 23rd of this month.
In the Johannesburg-based Times Archie Henderson writes that it appears the real battle is for control of the team.
Arthur and his anonymous comrades believe they should have complete control over the team. The captain even has a say in the selection of the team, which is outrageous ... When the Proteas coach objects to “interference” by the president, what is he implying? That Arendse should meekly sign off on the team (like some notorious cabinet minister did in the apartheid era)?
In the same paper, Alex Parker puts forth his idea of transformation where in eight black players should be included in a South African XI.
And iafrica.com's contributing editor Dan Nicholl writes a letter to Arendse backing Herschelle Gibbs' selection in to the squad for Bangladesh as Nicholl has Gibbs in his Cricinfo fantasy squad.
Nishi Narayanan is a staff writer at ESPNcricinfo