South Africa face top-order juggling act (8 June 1999)

8 June 1999

South Africa face top-order juggling act

Trevor Chesterfield

MANCHESTER (England) - As a side which has been plotting to win the World Cup since before the tour of England more than a year ago, South Africa have glued themselves closely to the plot.

But the form of the top order, so long a debating point in such a high pressure tournament and one where serious questions are now emerging about the mental attitude of the team's batsmen, may force the selectors to make a couple of changes as the remaining two games of the Super Six loom.

What may be seen in Edgbaston tomorrow where South Africa meet the unlucky New Zealanders could be the shape of things to come. So far, apart from the game against Pakistan, Hansie Cronje and Bob Woolmer have so far played it strictly according to their 'best team selection' policy. And with Peter Pollock also in agreement they have dug in and resisted dropping either Gary Kirsten or Jonty Rhodes - or both.

In fact not much has changed in terms of team personnel at all since the game against India at Hove.

Now, however, with form being crucial and too much reliance on the lower-order and the Lance Klusener factor to win matches, there is extra pressure on who should open and likely to bat at three. There is an argument to return Jacques Kallis to three, promote Klusener to six and open with Daryll Cullinan and give Dale Benkenstein a chance and retain Jonty Rhodes. Apart from improving the team's fielding depth, especially in the circle, the bowling, which has been largely responsible for the side's success in the tight games, the feeling is that Benkenstein has the ability to bat well in tight situations.

Well, it is one argument and has had a grudging response from some team sources who have admitted concern over top-order failures. Yet, like negotiating a run with Inzamam-ul-Haq, nothing is certain. South Africa have normally named a 12 on the eve of the game and left it at that; so the guessing game continues. Benkenstein has been included in the 12 twice which really means nothing: both times he was retained as 12th man. South Africa at least managed to get in a practice session at Edgbaston which is more than they have managed to do leading up to the Pakistan match at Trent Bridge last Saturday. As has been pointed out a lack of concentrated batting practice has not helped players such as Kirsten and Rhodes regain some form.

While the Kiwis know they need to win at Edgbaston to keep their semi-final hopes afloat, South Africa's more serious concern is to find what has gone wrong with the batting form.

Then again, the rain clouds which have hovered ominously around England for more than a month can also wreck the game further. South Africa are not in a position where one point from an abandoned match is going to help their cause. At this stage of the tournament it is becoming a little too tight.

Source :: Trevor Chesterfield, Pretoria News