Some surprises in Proteas' lineup
Brad Morgan
10 October 2008
South Africa has named its cricket squads to face Kenya in two one-day games and Bangladesh in a one-day and test series before heading Down Under to face world number one Australia. The selections reflect the Proteas' recent results in the two different forms of the game.
The test line-up is similar to the squad that impressively beat England in England, but the ODI squad has undergone a number of changes in the wake of a shockingly poor 4-0 series loss to the English.
Long time star performer Makhaya Ntini has been omitted from the limited overs squad and, while it is somewhat of a shock to see Ntini not in the team, his performances have not been up to scratch in the short form of the game.
Ntini's ODI form
National coach Mickey Arthur told East Coast Radio's Sports Cage that "it (Ntini's form) hasn't been brilliant for the past couple of years now, and we have given him enough opportunities to really turn that around.
"You almost get to a point where we're probably looking at guys like Dale (Steyn) and Morne (Morkel) to spearhead our attack in (the) 2011 (Cricket Corld Cup) because the criteria there is going to be that you need to be able to bowl a lot of variations and coupled to that is the ability to bowl at the death."
In an interesting decision, off-spinner Johan Botha was named vice-captain of the ODI team. The Proteas have not always had a dependable limited overs spinner and the appointment of Botha speaks volumes about the trust that the team's selectors have in him.
'A genuine vice-captain'
Arthur explained:"We felt that it was time to show some faith in appointing a genuine vice-captain, so we needed to make a decision and Johan Botha's leadership qualities stand out hugely."
Botha will lead South Africa against Kenya with captain Graeme Smith still working his way back to fitness after struggling with tennis elbow.
The most interesting selection in the ODI squad is that of Ryan McLaren. The reason for this is that the Eagles' player has signed a Kolpak contract with Kent where he has enjoyed a lot of success. The county is not keen to let him go, but Cricket South Africa is trying to work out a deal with it.
He scored 464 runs and averaged 23.2 with the bat in the recently completed county season. Former SA ODI player, Justin Kemp, by contrast, scored 412 runs for Kent at 25.75, but didn't bowl. McLaren picked up 49 wickets at 23.46. Thus, he brings the kind of all round quality the selectors are looking for in the national team.
Amla's opportunity
Hashi Amla, who was called into the line-up in England when the Proteas were badly off form, has been retained, giving him an opportunity to cement his place in the one-day team; his place in the test side is assured.
In a somewhat surprising move, Andre Nel was omitted from both the test and one-day international squads. Arthur explained that Nel's ODI career is probably over, but added that he is still in contention for a test place.
He said: "Andre Nel probably won't be around in 2011. We sort of know that for a fact. In terms of the test team we've only announced 13 (players). There is place for another chap – a guy that really puts his hand up and performs really well in domestic cricket – and Andre Nel is the next bowler in. You know, he's really fighting for a place with Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, who have probably got their noses in front of him at the moment."
Pro20
There is an opportunity for some fringe ODI players to make their mark in a Pro20 international against Bangladesh. Justin Ontong, with 23 ODI caps to his name, gets another chance to make his mark; his form in the domestic game has been good for a number of seasons now and a recent move to Cape Town to play for the Cobras could help boost his career.
The only uncapped player in the squad is another Cobras' player, Rory Kleinveldt, a fast-medium bowler.
He joined former SA wicketkeeper Nic Pothas at Hampshire in the off-season. Despite a short stay with the county, Kleinveldt says it helped him adjust his focus as a professional cricketer. Some have compared him to Proteas' great Shaun Pollock, but Kleinveldt says he is simply trying to make his way in the game; Pollock built up his legendary profile over a decade.
SQUADS
Test squad (to play two Tests against Bangladesh): Graeme Smith (Nashua Cape Cobras, capt), Ashwell Prince (Chevrolet Warriors, vice-capt), Hashim Amla (Nashua Dolphins), Mark Boucher (Chevrolet Warriors), AB de Villiers (Nashua Titans), JP Duminy (Nashua Cape Cobras), Paul Harris (Nashua Titans), Jacques Kallis (Chevrolet Warriors), Neil McKenzie (bizhub Highveld Lions), Morne Morkel (Nashua Titans), Makhaya Ntini (Chevrolet Warriors), Dale Steyn (Nashua Titans), Monde Zondeki (Nashua Cape Cobras)
Pro20 squad (for one-off match against Bangladesh): Graeme Smith (Nashua Cape Cobras, capt), Johan Botha (Chevrolet Warriors, vice-capt), Loots Bosman (Gestetner Diamond Eagles), AB de Villiers (Nashua Titans), JP Duminy (Nashua Cape Cobras), Herschelle Gibbs (Nashua Cape Cobras), Rory Kleinveldt (Nashua Cape Cobras), Ryan McLaren (Gestetner Diamond Eagles), Albie Morkel (Nashua Titans), Morne Morkel (Nashua Titans), Justin Ontong (Nashua Cape Cobras), Dale Steyn (Nashua Titans).
ODI squad (to play two ODIs against Kenya and three against Bangladesh): Graeme Smith (Nashua Cape Cobras, capt), Johan Botha (Chevrolet Warriors, vice-capt), Hashim Amla (Nashua Dolphins), Mark Boucher (Chevrolet Warriors), AB de Villiers (Nashua Titans), JP Duminy (Nashua Cape Cobras), Herschelle Gibbs (Nashua Cape Cobras), Jacques Kallis (Chevrolet Warriors), Ryan McLaren (Gestetner Diamond Eagles), Albie Morkel (Nashua Titans), Morne Morkel (Nashua Titans), Justin Ontong (Nashua Cape Cobras), Dale Steyn (Nashua Titans), Monde Zondeki (Nashua Cape Cobras).
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