Gary Kirsten was thrown a World Cup lifeline when he was named in the South African cricket team that will be captained by Mark Boucher for the first Test against Bangladesh at Buffalo Park in East London from Friday.
Kirsten was dropped from the One Day side against Australia last summer and after a run of poor performances early this season was axed from the SA A side in the middle of the Australia A series. His chances then of forcing his way back into contention for next year’s World Cup were rather slim. However, as convener of selectors Omar Henry pointed out on Monday, Kirsten is still very much in the reckoning.
”Gary is one of our best Test players and in the past has played an important role in the one dayers. What we want is Gary Kirsten in top form.”
Henry added that the team for the second Test in Potchefstroom next week would be altered. ”How it will change I can’t say but it will change,” said Henry.
Regular captain Shaun Pollock is receiving treatment for a knee injury and the selectors felt he would benefit from a rest. Boucher will lead the team for the fourth time, having captained the side in all three home Tests against the Australians earlier this year. This is the first time though he will do so in front of his home crowd.
Northerns middle order batsman Martin van Jaarsveld is the only new cap in the team.
”Van Jaarsveld is the form player at the moment and he has proven himself a consistent run scorer over a prolonged period,” explained Henry.
The 28-year-old Van Jaarsveld said it was ”a great feeling to receive recognition at Test level. I have worked so hard for so long and suddenly, in the last two weeks things have been happening.”
Van Jaarsveld was named one of South Africa’s five cricketers of the year last Monday, a day after making his senior international debut in the second one-day international against Bangladesh in Benoni.
The sheer weight of runs that Van Jaarsveld has scored was probably the main reason that Neil McKenzie was left out of the side.
McKenzie and Easterns skipper Andrew Hall are the only players left out of the side that beat Australia in Durban last season. Henry said however that both players were considered for the first Test.
Hall will be replaced by Eastern Province fast bowler Mornantau Hayward who was recalled after last making an appearance in the second Test against Australia in Melbourne last December. He edged out Steve Elworthy, who, like Hall and Van Jaarsveld, was named as one of the five cricketers of the year. ”We were very tempted to pick Elworthy,” admitted Henry, ”but he was left out more because of the game plan we have in mind rather than what he offers.
”We plan to come at them hard up front.”
SA team to play Bangladesh: Mark Boucher (Capt-Border), Gary Kirsten (WP), Herschelle Gibbs (WP), Graeme Smith (WP), Jacques Kallis (WP), Ashwell Prince (WP), Martin van Jaarsveld (Northerns), Paul Adams (WP), David Terbrugge (Gauteng), Makhaya Ntini (Border), Mornantau Hayward (EP). 12th Man Alfonso Thomas (North West) – Sapa