A former member of the South African cricket selection committee, Hugh Page, came out in support of captain Graeme Smith’s call for greater stability in the cricket set-up in South Africa.
Page said on Thursday that South Africa are amateurs in a world of professionals.
”I’m not saying that the players aren’t professional,” he said. ”We seem to have got that right, and [coach] Ray Jennings has given them an extra bit of hardness. But the whole selection process is amateurish. Until we select the best possible team, we can’t expect to win on a regular basis.”
Page was particularly concerned about the selection of a wicketkeeper (Thami Tsolekile) to bat at number nine or 10.
”No team can afford the luxury of a wicketkeeper who is not also a top-class batsman. Either they should bring Mark Boucher back, or look at another option. There are six or seven other wicketkeepers who are as good as, or better than Tsolekile.
”Wendell Bossenger, from Griquas, has constantly been overlooked. To my mind, he’s the best ‘keeper-batsman in the country, but where is he now? Playing for the Griquas amateur side. That’s ridiculous.”
Page said he is very pleased that Nicky Boje is back in the side, and will be fit to play.
”It will also be good news if Jacques Kallis is fit to bowl again, because that would make space for another specialist batsman in the team.”
He said he is concerned that there are not enough players in the current squad who are ready to ”bat for their lives”.
”Andrew Hall did that in the first Test in India,” he said. ”That was a magnificent effort — but now it looks as if he may be dropped from the team. Hashim Amla also batted well in India — but then he was dropped for the next Test. If they are going to play him, they have to give him a bit of a run.”
Page said he is fully behind Smith’s call for greater stability in the whole cricket set-up.
”We are going to have a new convener of selectors midway through next year, and then it will all start again,” he said.
”We need a convener of selectors who has played at the very highest level, has a good cricketing pedigree, and who can be open and honest with the players, the administrators and the public. Until that happens, we are going to continue bumbling along.
”The players need to know where they stand, but they also need to know that they have to fight for their places in the team,” he said.
”One of my concerns is that some of them seem to be too concerned about taking care of themselves. They don’t seem to be prepared to go through the pain threshold — they are looking after their own best interests, and not those of the team.
”If you want to beat a team like England, you have to select the very best players, and select players with guts and character.”
The 14-man squad assemble in Durban on Friday ahead of the Boxing Day Test at Kinsgmead, starting on Sunday. The final team for the Test will probably be announced on Sunday. — Sapa