Champagne time for South African players

By D. Ravi Shankar

BANGALORE, MARCH 4. Champagne bottles will be uncorked in the South African dressing room over three days. Not just because the Proteas have to just bang the final nail in India's coffin and complete a series win but also because Darryl Cullinan, Derek Crookes and Mornantau Hayward will be celebrating their birthdays in that order starting from Saturday.

Darryl Cullinan, born in Kimberly 33 years ago on this day, would certainly have liked to celebrate his birthday with a century here on the third day.

But he was home boy Anil Kumble's fourth victim, snapped up by Wasim Jaffer. Cullinan, however, did an admirable job for his side compiling a half-century which included a soaring straight six off Kumble when he operated with the new ball.

On Sunday, Derek Crookes will be celebrating his 31st birthday. The all-rounder, known for his brilliant fielding, possibly second only to Jonty Rhodes, arrived in the city on Saturday afternoon to shore up the South African one-day squad. Crookes was born in Durban and has played 27 one-day internationals with a half-century against India at Sharjah (1996) as his best batting performance and three for 30 as his best bowling achievement against Pakistan at Nairobi (1996).

On the scheduled final day of the Bangalore Test, Mornantau Hayward will be cutting the cake. The blonde right arm fast bowler with a slingshot action could very well play a vital role in engineering the home team's defeat in the final Test. Born on 20th March, 1977 Hayward looks all set to serve South Africa as its pace spearhead in tandem with Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald for some time to come.

Nicky Boje, who thwarted India when sent in as nightwatchman on the first day, will celebrate his birthday later in the month.

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