Smarting after the setbacks in New Zealand, Sri Lanka and England, the senior cricketers of South Africa’s national side are getting ready for the November visit to India and will be warming up in the opening round of the new Supersport Series matches this week.
The pick of the crop is set for the Sahara Stadium (Kingsmead) in Durban from Thursday to Sunday as the relatively inexperienced KZN Dolphins line up against the might of Western Province-Boland.
With players such as Alan Dawson, Charl Willoughby, Paul Adams, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince and national skipper Graeme Smith in their ranks, the WP-Boland combination looks set to wrap up the points in less than the four-day window.
By contrast, the Dolphins, who have impressed in pre-season outings, are devoid of star attractions in the national sense apart from Shaun Pollock and Lance Klusener. But they are an enthusiastic young bunch under the leadership of Hashim Amla, a man perhaps destined to fill a similar role in future national sides. Amla takes over from the long-serving Dale Benkenstein.
Amla is no newcomer to the role of skipper and has a distinguished background, which should enable him to bring out the
best in his young charges. Opening batsmen Imraan Khan and Doug Watson have a major task in setting the platform for big scores to thwart any opposition.
Coach Phil Russell, who succeeded Eldine Baptiste, has relied heavily on his experienced men in Benkenstein, Pollock and Klusener along with Jon Kent and Ahmed Amla to bolster his batting options while Duncan Brown is an ever-improving wicketkeeper-batsman.
The attack may appear a little bit thin after Pollock and Klusener, but pace-bowler hopeful Mfuneko Ngam is back to the form that stamped him as an exciting Proteas prospect before a succession of injuries sidelined him. Russell has high hopes for Johann Louw and Russell Symcox as back-up to the spin of Khan.
On paper it is Western Province-Boland who have the artillery, but do not rule out the foot soldiers of the KZN Dolphins . – Sapa