In terms of political correctness Peter Pollock's national selection panel got it right yesterday when they included Border's Makhaya Ntini in the South African test squad to play Sri Lanka at Newlands in the first match of the series starting on Thursday.
It is a choice which will please the politicians who have been advocating for a change in selection policy, but in terms of ability as the highest level of the game there are going to be a few queries from Melbourne to Lord's in London.
Ntini comes into the South African side with a first-class haul of 56 wickets at an average of around 35 runs a wicket, figures which a Sunday yesterday paper declined to publish. But such are the demands of the new symbolism of the rainbow nation, a 20-year-old is being rushed in to fill a gap which could do much pschological harm to a totally pleasant youngster.
What is unfair are the pressures being placed on a player of his age. Should he fail the egg on the faces of those who have demaded he be rushed into the side could be as large as an omlette. Whether, of course, he plays at Newlands on Thursday and against a side whose top-order is highly suspect at present, depends on the extra demands of those who feel Ntini's selection is a choice of merit.
At least Pollock and Co resisted the temptation of including Roger Telemachus in their squad, but having decided on a 12-man party for Newlands at least, it was an easy enough decision to make.
What is interesting is bringing back Daryll Cullinan for Andrew Hudson and retaining an out of form Adam Bacher, whose technical skills against the wiles of in-swinging yorker and Mutthia Muralitharan's spin is still suspect.
No doubt they feel with the leg-spin of Mushtaq Ahmed out of the way now that Pakistan are north of the Limpopo, it was okay to bring Cullinan back in to the side. And as there is no Shane Warne on the horizon - he is at present plying his trade in India - it is safe for the talented Cullinan to venture out again.
There had been some thought that Hudson might be brought up the order to open instead of Bacher. Should Bacher fail again at Newlands, a suggestion that Jaccques Kallis be used as an opener at Centurion Park in the second test is not too far fetched.
The young and highly talented all-rounder with a century yesterday as Gary Kirsten's partner was used in this positiion by Middlesex with some success last year. Not surprisingly HD Ackerman has been given an extended run in the side with a third test cap.
Also out of the squad which played agaunst Pakistan is Pat Symcox with the selectors now relying on Paul Adams at Newlands and perhaps taking another look after the Newlands encounter.
The squad is:
Hansie Cronje (capt), Gary Kirsten, Adam Bacher, Jacques Kallis, HD Ackerman, Daryll Cullinan, Shaun Pollock, Mark Boucher, Lance Klusener, Allan Donald, Makhaya Nitini, Paul Adams