Mark Smit
8 October 2008
Johannesburg — CRICKET SA (CSA) boss - and acting selection convener - Gerald Majola said yesterday that the one-day squad to play Bangladesh and Kenya in SA next month had been named with the 2011 World Cup in mind.
Yet Herschelle Gibbs, who will be 37 or 38 by then - and whose form has sputtered like an engine with dirty spark plugs of late -- is in the squad.
Gibbs, an enigmatic and unpredictable player at best these days, retained his place in the one-day squad while stalwart fast bowlers Makhaya Ntini and Andre Nel were, as many had suspected they might be, left out in the cold. Ntini, a fixture in international squads since 1999, retained his place in the Test squad to play Bangladesh, however, while Nel did not.
Classy Eagles all-rounder Ryan McLaren, who has been the subject of intense negotiations between English county Kent and CSA, is a new face in the one-day squad while Cape all-rounder Rory Kleinveldt is the new cap in the Pro20 squad.
Warriors off-spinner Johan Botha has been elevated to vice-captain in a move lauded by Majola, who named four squads yesterday -- a Test squad for two matches against Bangladesh; a 50-over international squad; a Pro20 squad; and a Super Sixes squad for the Hong Kong event in November.
Lions captain Alviro Petersen can feel aggrieved that he did not get a look in at Gibbs' expense, but the selectors have been positive in adding youngsters such as Dillon du Preez and Dean Elgar (Eagles), Johann Louw (Dolphins), former under 19 captain Wayne Parnell (Warriors), Petersen and another left-hander, Lonwabo Tsotsobe (Warriors) to a list of players to join the training camp in Kimberley.
This at least shows that, if they have a blind spot where fading stars such as Gibbs are concerned, they at least recognise the growing presence of a talented crop of youngsters.
The absence of Ntini, while likely to cause emotional debate, is entirely understandable. There are an awful lot of overs in that body and even though he is supremely fit, the constant wear and tear has to start showing now that he has passed that significant barrier of 30 years old. Ntini is 31 and that, by most standards, is getting on for a fast bowler. So it makes abundant sense that his energies should be preserved for the Test arena, where his experienced presence will be vital to the likes of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.
Graeme Smith has been named captain in all cases, although he might not play in the opening Pro20 game against Bangladesh. However, it seems the selectors and Majola are confident he will be back in time for the one-day games.
It might be timely to remind them that risking Smith by bringing him back too early, when such an important season lies ahead, would be very stupid.
Smith's in-your-face aggression and arrogance will be needed against Australia. To see him breaking down again, because he was rushed back, would be disastrous.
For those who have watched left-arm swing bowler Wayne Parnell in action, his inclusion in the training camp squad is an exciting development. Given the caution exhibited by the selectors and coach Mickey Arthur in the past, the old cricket adage of "if he is good enough, he is old enough", was never going to apply here.
Arthur said last week he wanted to see Parnell performing at first-class level for a while longer before making up his mind about him.
For those who have seen Vernon Philander in action at international level, his inclusion in the six-a-side squad is a shock, but in such a truncated format he is unlikely to have enough time to do damage.
The Test squad retains the settled look Arthur and Smith want, with no changes to that which toured England, other than Nel's absence.
Majola insisted Nel was still very much in the mix for the tour to Australia and used the management of players as the reason for some of the surprises yesterday, but Nel is fighting against the clock with a host of younger fast bowlers now coming into the reckoning. The issue of experience, which is a key to any series against Australia, might yet be his saviour, however.
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