SA squad for the first test v Aussies

South Africa's cricket selectors showed great initiative on Wednesday when they named a 12-man squad for the first test against Australia over two weeks before the start of the match and in so doing cooling an impending media frenzy over whether JP Duminy or Ashwell Prince would be selected in the number six spot.

Duminy, of course, is now a superstar of world cricket after his top-class performances in Australia and a riot probably would have broken out if the elegant left-hander had suddenly been dropped.

But Prince, the incumbent vice-captain, played a number of outstanding innings himself last year before a cracked thumb handed Duminy his chance in a telling twist of fate. Prince scored 162 not out in his last test innings as he rescued South Africa from a threatening position against Bangladesh in Centurion at the end of November and scored 900 runs in all at an average of 64.28 in 2008.

"There has been a lot of speculation about the whole JP/Ashwell situation and we felt the players, who have done so well for us, needed a stable environment so we decided to name the team early. It will also give these guys confidence," convenor of selectors Mike Procter said on Wednesday.

Procter told SuperCricket that the selectors had in-depth consultations with coach Mickey Arthur and captain Graeme Smith and, although Prince has every reason to bemoan his ill-fortune, he certainly can't be angry at his treatment, given that he has just returned to action and that Duminy and the rest of the batting order have performed above expectations.

"Ashwell is seriously unlucky, he scored over 160 in his last test when we were in trouble and he also produced some wonderful innings in England," Procter said. "But we looked at all the options, gave it a lot of thought and made our decision after speaking with Mickey and Graeme. We are in the privileged position of having seven world-class batsmen for six positions."

There has been speculation that Neil McKenzie should be dropped to make way for Prince, with Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers or even Prince himself moving up the order to open with Smith. But Procter dismissed the idea as being bad for the team dynamic as a whole.

"The batsmen have produced a helluva good showing, they practically all scored over a thousand runs in 2008, so we don't want to disrupt them from three down.

"We know Neil did not have a good tour of Australia, but he was thrown in at the deep end to open at the start of last year and he scored more than a thousand runs. It would also be very harsh to ask someone else to come from down the order and open the batting," Procter said.

Left-arm paceman Lonwabo Tsotsobe has been added to the team that played the last test in Sydney but is unlikely to be called into service at the Wanderers from February 26 to March 2.

Procter said wicketkeeper Mark Boucher was expected to be fit after breaking his toe in Australia, but if he is not, a call on whether AB de Villiers would take the gloves would be made later.

"The reports that have reached us about Mark are positive, but I guess there is always some doubt. If he can't play, then there is a distinct possibility that AB will keep wicket and Ashwell will come in to the side," Procter said.

But with the team now free of all the Prince/Duminy speculation, they can now focus on the important task of getting their minds ready for the expected backlash of the Aussies, with South Africa going into the series in the unaccustomed position of obvious favourites.

Squad: Graeme Smith, Neil McKenzie, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Mark Boucher, Paul Harris, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

If AB did have to take the gloves and Prince moved in the lineup, in theory it would strengthen their team with an extra batsman.

Tsotsobe looked all right in the ODI and T20 he played, will be interesting to see if he forces in way into the test team in the next couple of years.

Taipan, as a matter of interest, do you ever envisage the small Morkel playing test cricket?

Can't see it at the moment. Bit short of pace for the longer game.

At the moment they wouldn't even have to show great initiative. Just select whoever turned up and wanted a game.

Bring back Warnie.

Bradman wrote:At the moment they wouldn't even have to show great initiative. Just select whoever turned up and wanted a game.

Bring back Warnie.

Roger Telemarketer, Robbie Peterson, Boeta Dippenaar. I'm tipping we'd go in pretty short odds.

Red wrote:

Bradman wrote:At the moment they wouldn't even have to show great initiative. Just select whoever turned up and wanted a game.

Bring back Warnie.

Roger Telemarketer, Robbie Peterson, Boeta Dippenaar. I'm tipping we'd go in pretty short odds.

Telemachus is semi retired. Boeta is Kolpak tied i think

Not to mention crap and half woman.

bliksem wrote:Not to mention crap and half woman.

You have a warning alert if Boeta is mentioned?

That's funny. A Boeta sledge on cue from bliks.

I agree with the half woman call.

Red wrote:I agree with the half woman call.

Personal experience?