The Hindu : UCB ignores Klusener

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 21, 2003

Sport

Sport - Cricket

UCB ignores Klusener

JOHANNESBURG May 20. Veteran all rounder Lance Klusener was left out of both the South African one-day and Test squads today for the forthcoming tour to England.

The United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCB) named two squads of 16 players for the Tests and 17 for the one-day internationals and also ignored Klusener when it issued one-year contracts to 20 players.

The decision could signal the end of his international career after he recently said that he would be `gone before the dust could settle' if he failed to receive a new deal.

Klusener, 31, was the player of the tournament at the 1999 World Cup in England, but he has failed to consistently produce the same form in recent seasons and his relationship with the UCB has become increasingly stormy.

The South African selectors named six black players in the Test squad, including SA `A' wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile.

The 22-year-old Tsolekile will undertake his first tour with the South African team, having made his first class debut as a 19-year-old. He captained the South African under-19 team at the World Cup in 2000.

``Thami enjoyed a fine tour of Australia (with the SA `A' team) with the gloves and will learn a tremendous amount about the game in England,'' said selector Omar Henry.

There are also places in the Test squad for spinner Robin Peterson, who made his debut on the recent tour of Bangladesh, and right-arm seamer Monde Zondeki, who has yet to play a Test, but was part of the recent World Cup squad.

Only six players who were part of the 1998 tour to England have survived.

Batsman Gary Kirsten, all rounders Jacques Kallis and Shaun Pollock, wicketkeeper Mark Boucher and bowlers Makhaya Ntini and Paul Adams are those who played in the series which South Africa lost 2-1.

The squad will be captained by Western Province's Graeme Smith, who was appointed in March after South Africa was eliminated in the first round of the World Cup, which it hosted.

The squad:

For Tests: Graeme Smith (capt.), Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten, Jacques Rudolph, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Paul Adams, Charl Willoughby, Boeta Dippenaar, Thami Tsolekile, Robin Peterson, Dewald Pretorius and Monde Zondeki.

For one-dayers: Graeme Smith, Mark Boucher (vice-capt.), Paul Adams, Nicky Boje, Alan Dawson, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, Charl Langeveldt, Neil McKenzie, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Dewald Pretorius, Jacques Rudolph, Martin van Jaarsveld and Morne van Wyk.

Reuters

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