South African team for Indian tour

By Ted Corbett

JOHANNESBURG, FEB. 7. After its easy success against England, South Africa has named a conventional squad of 14 for the tour of India next month when it plays Tests in Mumbai and Bangalore. It will be soon enough to make changes for the arrival of the Australians in April's one-day series. For the moment there is a certainty about its team which makes experiment unnecessary.

The top five of the batting order is set in stone. Herschelle Gibbs and Gary Kirsten are right and left-handed, experienced separately and together; and capable of dealing with almost any attack whether it contains an aggressive McGrath look- alike or a pair of medium-pacers. Kirsten was rested half way through the triangular one-day series at his own request, but his undefeated 275 at Durban showed his grit and, late in his cricket life, he is set to pass 4,000 runs, the sign of a distinguished career.

Jacques Kallis is one of the great batsmen of the world and one day he will make a huge score to back up his claim to be the new Martin Crowe. Many captains would love his bowling - 56 wickets at 29.14 - as much as his batting average of 42.10.

Darryl Cullinan may have the idea it is time he went back to his day job in the fax machine industry permanently, but he is also an effective No. 4 tough enough to hold a conversation with any bowler on the globe save Shane Warne and a Test average of 43.45. Hansie Cronje still averages 37.26 in Tests despite disasters against England and he is a steadfast captain, forever on the bridge even when the sailing is smooth.

Pieter Strydom will probably be No. 6; a 30-year-old making his first tour and bringing huge knowledge and some rock- like qualities to the job and followed by Lance Klusener, a slugging hitter in the Mike Tyson mould unless he is tied down by cleverer spinners than England could find. Shaun Pollock fancies his own batting and he is bowling at the top of his form; Mark Boucher, the wicketkeeper, would bat No. 5 in many Test teams but has to settle for eighth or ninth place with South Africa. He is 23 but he has 109 victims already.

Allan Donald, given a rest from the one-day squad in the current triangular series, and Nantie Hayward or Paul Adams, complete the likely Test team. The reserves are Clive Eksteen, 33, the slow left-arm spinner whose eight Test wickets have cost 55 runs apiece and who failed to bowl out England on a turning pitch when Mike Atherton made 185 not out at Johannesburg. He is cover for Adams who is fit again after breaking the middle finger of his bowling hand. At his age Eksteen is a controversial choice, but he has been playing well in provincial matches and clearly he may spend the whole tour without bowling anywhere except the nets.

Boeta Dippenaar is a batsman and a young hopeful with only two Tests, but the confidence of the entire selection panel behind him. He will come home, with Eksteen, Cullinan and Donald when the one-day games begin and five other players, to be named later, will take their places.

``We feel it is a well-balanced squad with Kirsten, Cullinan and Donald back,'' said Rushdie Maiget, the convener of selectors and it is impossible to disagree with that view. It is a short tour and the room for lavish experiment is limited, but one injury may put reserves on trial at the highest level and in that way South Africa will discover if it needs to look further for new blood.

Much of the discussion will centre on Donald. Can he reach 300 Tests wickets by claiming 10 victims in two matches and then retire with good grace? We will see; but if will power has any part in his bowling he may finish with 310 wickets. He will have a boost from the knowledge that the tour is short. Expect him to open up as he did against England, with engines at full throttle and the face paint gleaming.

The squad: Hansie Cronje (captain), Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten, Jacques Kallis, Darryl Cullinan, Pieter Strydom, Lance Klusener, Shaun Pollock, Mark Boucher, Allan Donald, Boeta Dippenaar, Clive Eksteen, Nantie Hayward and Paul Adams.

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