Hick and McKenzie on trial

Port Elizabeth - Two batsmen in opposing camps, one aiming to re-establish his Test career the second trying to develop one may find that St George's Park, in Port Elizabeth the ideal venue to impress those likely to be involved in their immediate future.

For Graeme Hick, with a record of scoring a 100 centuries and an envious career average in the mid 50s, a big three figure score for England XI against the South African Invitation XI, starting tomorrow, would do no harm to his reputation as a top middle-order batsmen.

Just the sort the tourists need to help rebuild their confidence with the fifth Test looming in Centurion now a week away.

It is a similar task for Neil McKenzie, whose growing reputation as a captain finds him being thrown in at the deep end, as it were, as he leads the Invitation XI. Yet McKenzie, with more than 700 first-class runs to his credit this summer, has lost his way a little in recent weeks.

His ability to handle the bouncy pitches around South Africa has certainly worked in his favour and the way he has scored big runs when under pressure has persuaded Rushdi Magiet's national panel to take a closer look at him.

Whether an impressive performance is enough for McKenzie to be included in the side for India is another matter. He should make the A team tour of the West Indies later this year and depending on availability of say Jonty Rhodes for Sri Lanka, that is another option.

Another in with a chance of impressing the selectors is Greg Smith, who along with Roger Telemachus and Henry Williams are likely to share the new ball for the Invitation XI.

England's problems, however, are far more pressing. The idea to give at least five, if not all six players who arrived yesterday to play in the triangular limited-overs series starting on January 21 a run at St George's Park should help brush off some of the winter rust.

Mark Alleyne has been in Bangladesh and New Zealand with the England A side, and although a limited-overs specialist, he is another who could boost the Test side as a replacement for the injured Andy Flintoff.

While England's captain, Nasser Hussain, has made it clear that they are unlikely to deviate from the current Test squad, the poor form of such players as Chris Adams and even Michael Vaughan suggests that Hick, should he look in good form, might be the answer to the beleaguered tourists who need to win the last Test if they hope to salvage something from what has been a visit of mixed success.

There is also a growing confidence that Alan Mullally, out since the end of November with a side strain, is fit again to bowl, sharing the new ball with Alex Tudor

Teams:

SA Invitation XI: Rudolf Steyn (Northerns), Carl Bradfield (EP), James Bryant (EP), Neil McKenzie (Northerns), Ashwell Prince (WP), Justin Ontong (Bol), Wendell Bossenger (Griquas), Roger Telemachus (WP), Garnett Kruger (EP), Greg Smith (Northerns), Henry Williams (Bol). Twelfth man: Robin Peterson (EP)

England XI (possibly from): Mark Butcher/Darren Maddy, Nick Knight, Nasser Hussain (capt), Graeme Hick, Mark Alleyne, Chris Read, Gavin Hamilton, Mark Ealham, Ashley Giles,Vikram Solanki, Graeme Swann, Alan Mullally, Alex Tudor.