South Africa called up experienced batsman Neil McKenzie for the second Test against the West Indies starting at Newlands on Wednesday after their shock 128-run defeat in the first match in Port Elizabeth.
McKenzie (32) is expected to end a three-and-a-half year exile from Test cricket and open the batting in place of out-of-form Herschelle Gibbs.
South Africa fielded an unchanged team for the fifth successive match in Port Elizabeth — and had announced that the same squad would play in Cape Town.
The poor performance in the first Test forced a change of plan.
”There is no panic but we have decided to strengthen our top-order batting,” said coach Mickey Arthur.
McKenzie played in 41 Tests between 2000 and 2004 but scored only two centuries and compiled a mediocre average of 33,24.
But it is felt that McKenzie, who captains the Lions franchise team, has matured as a player and that he will bring experience and leadership to the team.
He has been one of the top scorers in domestic cricket and played a starring role in South Africa A’s wins over the New Zealand and West Indian touring teams this season.
He scored 182 and 34 against the New Zealanders and 54 when he led the second-stringers to victory over the West Indians in their only first-class match ahead of the Test series.
McKenzie usually bats at number three or four but Arthur is confident that he has the technique to cope as an opener. He said McKenzie would be part of South Africa’s plans for a tough year, which includes tours of India, England and Australia.
The West Indies, meanwhile, are unlikely to change the team that secured the first away win over one of the leading Test nations in seven years. It was also their first win in ten Tests in South Africa.
Captain Chris Gayle said the first Test victory was only the first step towards a series win.
”We know what we’re here for so we’re not going to be complacent,” he said.
Coach John Dyson echoed the words of his captain.
”We now have to work for consistency in Test cricket and repeat a good performance. It is the next challenge for the team.”
Before Port Elizabeth, the West Indies had lost eight out of nine Tests in South Africa. The only exception was the third Test at Newlands in 2003/04 where the match ended in a high-scoring draw. Gayle was one of three West Indian century-makers, racing to his hundred off 79 balls.
Gayle said he expected South Africa to come back strongly but said he looked forward to the challenge. ”We’ll try to cope with it. Cape Town is always a good wicket so hopefully we can put up an even better performance.”
Arthur and captain Graeme Smith both identified a poor first-innings performance as South Africa’s downfall in Port Elizabeth. With several of the players rested ahead of the Test, Arthur said he had planned three intensive net practices but the team’s preparation had been disrupted by rain. — AFP
Likely teams:
South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Neil McKenzie, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, AB de Villiers, Mark Boucher, Andre Nel, Paul Harris, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini.
West Indies: Chris Gayle (captain), Daren Ganga, Runako Morton, Marlon Samuels, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Darren Sammy, Fidel Edwards, Jerome Taylor, Daren Powell.
Umpires: Simon Taufel (Australia), Russell Tiffin (Zimbabwe). Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (Sri Lanka).