Wanderers change in character

Even in the late 1950s, when it first opened and through to the end of the ``mean machine'' era about a decade ago, groundsmen were able to provide what was commonly known as a ``sporting pitch''. The ball would fly and batsmen would know they were on a hiding to nothing.

There was one season in early 1980s, when Clive Rice was captain and teams still played for the Currie Cup the highest score by a batsman was an 87 from Kevin McKenzie.

Even during the rebel tour years and the first official series against India barely seven summers ago, the first day batting conditions saw the ball swing more than was comfortable. Scoring runs was also a matter where it needed a lot of skill and judgment in overcoming a ball's lateral movement often at speeds of 120 and 130 k/mph. Why negotiate a session or two let alone a day's play was an achievement.

Yet, if you consider, weather conditions apart, how many drawn tests have been managed at the Wanderers, along with the now SuperSport (A Section) series, the statistics would thumb its nose at those of the isolation era.

One argument, put forward by Anton Ferreira and Pat Symcox, is that the square at the Wanderers is overused. And it's not as crazy as it seems. What with the national academy using the square between June and August, and there being a lack of rain, the number of matches played have increased almost 100 percent in the last six years.

But what we had between Gauteng and Western Province was little more than the dead march. Instead of the selectors gaining an insight into how the top-order contestants they wanted to see against a fiery bowling attack, they were introduced to what was little more than a farce.

Down the road at Centurion Park there was far more sport between Northerns B and Griqualand West B in what was a Division 1 UCB Bowl outing. The run rate was rarely below 3.5 an over and records tumbled. Northerns B all-rounder Pierre de Bruyn now has his name stencilled in gold in the South African first-class records with a double century one day and six wickets the next. The last time that happened was 79 years ago when Herbie Collins, later to captain Australia, did it against South Africa at the Old Wanderers.

Then we had the 17-year-old Afrikaans high school boy (Grade 11) Jacques Rudolph scoring a maiden first-class century following his five wickets the previous day.

Okay, so the match ended in a draw. Yet what we did see were pretty good performances.

At the Wanderers, the Gauteng Lion played footsie with the mountain goat and it wasn't a nice sight; ponderous batting, laborious bowling and a bad taste in the mouth after it was over. If the selectors found anything to nod knowingly about after those boring performances they must be easy to please. Certainly nothing that would rattle the West Indian batsmen.

And to think, the first test starts in only three weeks time. For those who feel the tour is doomed, have a little faith; trade negotiations are always full of cordite before the stink settles, and once it does the fun will really start.