Who will replace Dave Richardson? (04 Oct 95)

Richardson`s Replacement.

South Africans will scorn at the days when Dave Richardson retires from international cricket, for many believe that none exist in South Africa who can replace him. Indeed, he has been an asset to the team since its readmission in 1991 and has fulfilled his role of wicket-keeper/batsman to perfection. In an unofficial World XI, he is probably second only to Australia`s Ian Healy.

Richardson has already hinted at retirement after the 1995/6 World Cup which is in the not too distant future. This has prompted me to think in depth on who is a most likely successor to the gloves. South Africa have never had to call up a wicketkeeper, other than Richardson, for a test to date, and only Errol Stewart has been used in a handful of limited over internationals. However, it is important to start blooding a test `keeping candidate as soon as possible to allow the transition of wicketkeepers to be as smooth as possible, without upsetting the balance of the national team.

I have constructed a short of analysis of who I believe the chief candidates are, on the criterior of both batting ability and keeping ability to most forms of bowling. Thereafter, also supplying statistical data of each Province`s regular wicketkeeper.

Earlier, I mentioned Errol Stewart, who played a few one day games, but I must add that he really cannot be seen as a possible candidate for the fact that he is not a genuine `keeper - at least not by test standards, despite a decent first class batting average near the 30s. Had he been a regular Bruyns often filled in for him.

South Africa, in prior tours, have used support wicket-keepers such as Steve Palframan and Gerhardus Liebenberg. Neither have made an impact on such tours to date, despite Liebenberg who performed with merit in Sri Lanka for the SA U-24 team. I feel his talents would be wasted there though and he is of greater value to the team as a top order batsman. Palframan, I must add has much potential. The young Border `keeper is not only competent behind the stumps, but also adept with the bat and has opened in the one dayers for Border in recent seasons.

Two other outstanding young candidates are Nic Pothas (Transvaal) and Louis-Marc Germishuys (Boland), who are relatively new to the game with 16 first class appearances each, but should they be find their way into the team then it would be a place that they could secure as well as Richardson did four years ago. I have overlooked Northern`s Kevin Rule since SA will be looking for a young `keeper who will be of service for at least the next five years, and Rule, past 30 is not the ideal candidate, despite a good record with both bat and ball and experience in the first class game. Philip Radley, is another who I feel will not adequately fill the shoes of Dave Richardson, because his first class batting average just does not further his cause.

I have, therefore, narrowed it down to a choice between Palframan, and the young `keepers Pothas and Germishuys. Palframan looks the most likely choice with enough experience and competence with both the batting and keeping gloves. Gerhardus Liebenberg would be a surprise selection if he were to get the nod, but I feel that the selectors will favour a wicket-keeper with a good keeping and batting record and who plays for a team with a varied bowling attack. Palframan appears to be the ideal man.

SOME STATISTICAL DATA: M RUNS AVGE HS Ct St E. Stewart 37 1795 28.95 146 76 2 Natal

K. Rule 46 2152 28.69 122 86 6 NTvl

P. Radley 41 758 18.95 37 118 8 OFS

G.Liebenberg 54 2893 31.45 142 49 4 OFS

D.Richardson 166 6007 27.43 134 481 33 EPR

S.Palframan 38 1230 23.21 123 112 13 BOR

N.Pothas 16 621 31.05 76* 49 3 TVL

L.M.Germishuys 16 678 30.82 108* 44 6 BOL