Andy CapostagnoCricket
If this is the beginning of a new age, then it’s particularly appropriate that South Africa will go into the Newlands Test against opponents who are, in the best sense of the word, old fashioned. Sri Lanka may be the world champions in one-day cricket, b ut their approach to Test cricket, if not antediluvian, is at least quaint.
They bat properly, bowl respectably and are about as well versed in the art of sledging as a Kalahari Bushman. If nothing else, it will probably be a quiet series.
In Sri Lanka five years ago, Brett Schultz bullied South Africa to victory. The islanders did not like the ball around their ears and succumbed fairly meekly. They have grown in stature since then and new tactics will be necessary. Fortunately, new tacti cs are available.
Principal among these is the tactic of political correctness. On Thursday, Makhaya Ntini took the field as the first black player ever to represent South Africa in a Test match. A few years ago Ali Bacher was so frequently to be heard uttering the word ” historic” in various contexts that the press suggested he should take out a patent on it. This time he can be forgiven for repetition. But will he be forgiven for window-dressing?
That question only needs to be answered if you believe that Ntini is not good enough to represent his country purely on his merits as a cricketer.
To my mind he has been picked too soon, but sport is for the young and I have no doubt that he is good enough.
Sri Lanka, for instance, would pick him without a moment’s hesitation were he available for them. He is quicker than either Pramodya Wickremasinghe or Ravindra Pushpakumara, and he has the ability to swing the ball both ways, something that most bowlers would give their eye-teeth for.
But he is not yet 21 and he has much to learn. He could quite easily freeze on the big occasion, and if he bowls too short in an effort for extra pace, he will be dealt with mercilessly by Sri Lanka’s magnificent top order.
In short, Ntini needs to be nursed. He must be given short spells and forgiving field settings, meaning a man on the cover-point boundary if necessary, meaning also that Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis will need to bowl more than they perhaps might like . Even so, he may under-perform.
But, as I have suggested elsewhere, there is no disgrace in that. Test cricket is hard. If it were not, there would be no point in playing it. Ntini has overcome many things to get to Newlands; he deserves some good fortune now that he is there.
As to the match itself, it would be too simple to bill it as Sri Lanka’s batsmen against South Africa’s bowlers, but the toss will probably be crucial. If Sri Lanka have first use of the pitch, they may well make enough runs to make the match safe. But i f the tourists are forced to bat second and last, the inclusion of Paul Adams in the South African side will be far more important than that of Nt ini.