ARTICLE: Cronje says 'Test Result ...' (P.Robinson) - 2 Mar 1995
TEST result is crucial says Cronje - Peter Robinson
Hansie Cronje accepts that the success or failure of South
Africa`s brief tour to New Zealand will be judged on the outcome
of the one-off test which starts at Eden Park on Saturday. "We
came over here specifically to do well in the one-day tournament,
which we didn`t," he said yesterday after the South Africans had
wrapped up an eight- wicket victory over an Academy XI. "Now
there`s only the test left for us. This is obviously one of the
highlights of New Zealand`s centenary season and they`ll be keen
to do well. But so will we." The South Africans leave Nelson to-
day to travel to Auckland to put the finishing touches to their
test preparations. They will have mixed feelings about their
stay in this friendly and relaxed resort. The Academy side were
disposed of without too much difficulty, with Allan Donald, Craig
Matthews and Steven Jack all bowling impressively, but their
batsmen didn`t quite get the time at the crease they would have
liked. "I was pleased that Andrew Hudson got some runs today and
Rudi Steyn and Daryll Cullinan scored in the first innings, so
that means three of the top five got runs," he said. But the two
who did not were himself and Jonty Rhodes who will both go into
the test match with generally unexceptional tours behind them.
Neither was South Africa`s slip catching particularly impressive
in this match as Cronje conceded, with several chances being
missed.. Jack`s seven-wicket haul in the match and the lack of
opportunities for the spinners here will make, as Cronje conced-
ed, picking the right combination for bowlers for the test a dif-
ficult choice. He did confirm, however, that South Africa would
field a spinner.
Contributed by Tony.Hassett (hasett@scinet.up.ac.za)