SA gamble with five batsmen
Altus Momberg, Die Burger
Colombo - Andrew Hall and Herschelle Gibbs will open the innings for South Africa in the first cricket Test against Sri Lanka that starts at the SCC here on Thursday.
The Proteas go into the match with only five specialist batsmen after Boeta Dippenaar had to make room for an extra bowler.
The attack will comprise Hall, Makhaya Ntini, André Nel, Dale Steyn and Nicky Bojé.
Protea coach Mickey Arthur admitted on Wednesday that it had been a tough call, but said they had decided to take the positive route.
"To win the Test, we have to take 20 wickets. I believe the five bowlers will enable us to do that," said Arthur.
Hall scored 163 runs against India in Kanpur at the end of 2004 after being asked to open the innings in similar circumstances, but he must be regarded as a stand-in opener.
When he walks to the crease with Gibbs, it will be only the fifth time that he will have opened an innings in a Test match.
Same as losing two players
The South Africans have been forced into this decision as a result of the injuries that ruled out Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis.
If they were available for this match, both would also have played a role with the ball. That would have enabled South Africa to play six specialist batsmen.
"Jacques was the big loss," said Arthur.
"I don't think people realise how important he is to the balance of the team. To lose him is almost the same as losing two players.
Sri Lanka also suffered a blow on Wednesday when their most-experienced seamer, Chaminda Vaas, failed a fitness test. He has a hamstring injury.
Samantha Algama, the Sri Lankan media spokesperson, confirmed that wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene would replace Vaas in the squad of 14 for the Test.
It is expected that Dilhara Fernado will share the new ball with Lasith Malinga.
Sri Lanka will start the two-match series as overwhelming favourites, certainly in the eyes of their supporters.
Local newspapers have quoted Sri Lankan players as saying how seriously they are taking the Proteas, and that their good performances in England will mean nothing once these Test matches begin.
However, the Proteas may be able to capitalise on the unmistakable confidence of the home team.
It remains a risk to go into a Test match with only five specialist batsmen, though.
Concern about Nel's bowling
South Africa did the same in the first Test against the West Indies last year and were forced to follow on. Only an unbeaten 109 by Kallis saved them from defeat.
Members of the team's management have declined to comment on another issue, namely the concern about fast bowler André Nel running on the wicket in his follow-through.
If he is penalised and told that he may not continue bowling, South Africa will have only three specialist bowlers.
TV: Starts 06:30 on CSN and SS 2.
News source: www.news24.co.za
Posted by: www.SouthAfrica-CarHire.com
