Cronje looks for a whitewash
Trevor Chesterfield
14 January 1999
IN CENTURION
Having already exploded the myth of West Indies pace as a weapon of
destruction, South Africa are now aiming to achieve a little history
of their own and wrap up their first 5-0 whitewash when the final test
of the series begins at Centurion Park today.
Just the sort of gift to the nation that Hansie Cronje, and his
patriotic side have prepared for as the importance of the possible
outcome of the series starts to sink in. Even the Windies are starting
to feel the pressure as Brian Lara, their captain, admitted after the
team's practice yesterday.
``South Africa have been better prepared and deserve to be in the
position they are now,'' Lara said on a day which even the tourists
found was hotter than most on their safari.
Cronje was just as open as Lara when he agreed the players had
realised the significance of winning 5-0 ``and we will all be going
flat out'' to achieve what only seven weeks ago was a ``dream but one
we shared''. Just the sort of admission to inspire the side out-play a
touring side with two legendary fast bowlers in Curtly Ambrose and
Courtney Walsh and a crop of highly promising youngsters, with Reon
King's late arrival yesterday adding to the list.
And Cronje was brave enough to admit he had not started the series
with a 5-0 in mind. ``Not after the disappointment in England,'' he
said. ``We wanted to take this series game by game and work on our
skills and disciplines. So far things have worked out well for us.''
While the South African skipper hoped ``all the players would be fit''
the only grey smudge on the horizon is Allan Donald's fitness. He was
to have had a noon-day work out in the middle but this was changed
instead to a tough net session and then the decision was to wait until
shortly before the captains toss.
Cronje was hopeful that both Donald and Shaun Pollock would share the
new ball. Which is understandable as they have been the two bowlers
whom South Africa owe much for the part they have played in this
series. Both have achieved records surpassed personal goals. Just what
Cronje and Co needed to subdue the West Indians who have failed to
make an impact.
As Cronje was also prepared to agree, the presence of David Terbrugge
and Jacques Kallis helped maintain the pressure on the West Indian
batsmen once the Donald-Pollock partnership had done their bit. And
as much as Pollock has emerged as a leading candidate for the man of
the series award, although Jonty Rhodes sneaked in the Kingsmead test
the contribution cannot be overlooked.
When Donald was injured at Newlands it was to Kallis whom Cronje
turned to help win the game. Yet it has been his consistency at three
in the order which has helped South Africa maintain more orderly
batting progress at the top: 375 runs at an average of 75 is the sort
of work rate Cronje and the coach, Bob Woolmer, would be looking for
from this talented all-rounder.
At the Wanderers, in the first match, and with South Africa facing a
low target to win, and so often a problem area when batting fourth on
a wearing pitch, it was Kallis, who at two for 14 in the 10th over
gave the side just the sort of confidence South Africa needed at a
time of mini crisis. His youthful exuberance yet calming influence
anchored that innings.
He did it again in Port Elizabeth on a pitch suited more to nasty form
of batting Russian Roulette than run-making. But throughout, he has
shown maturity and the sort of shot selection which made Cronje and
Woolmer signal him out as one of the stars of the series.
Hopefully Terbrugge can recapture his ability to swing the ball more
than he has done most of the series.
The Windies plan, well as we know it, is a restructured top-order with
birthday boy Darren Ganga, who turned 20 yesterday, opening with
Stuart Williams. As an experiment it is interesting. Unorthodox
perhaps, but the Windies have rarely shied away from such methods.
While history looms for South Africa and the knowledge that an
incredible 5-0 thrashing of the West Indies is a possibility, the
danger is that the tourists may yet turn something around in this last
test. It is not out of the question, but the way they have performed,
is unlikely.
Teams:
South Africa (from): Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques
Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Hansie Cronje (capt), Jonty Rhodes, Shaun
Pollock, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher, Allan Donald, Paul Adams,
David Terbrugge.
West Indies (possible): Stuart Williams, Darren Ganga, Philo
Wallace, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Brian Lara (capt), Carl Hooper,
Ridley Jacobs, Nixon McLean, Rawl Lewis, Curtly Ambrose, Reon King,
Courtney Walsh, Junior Murray, Clayton Lambert.
Umpires: Rudi Koertzen and Srinivas Venkataraghavan; TV: Dave
Orchard.
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka).
Hours of play: 10.30 am-12.30pm; 1.10pm-3.10pm; 3.30-5.30pm.
(Minimum of 90 overs a day)
TV: SABC 1, 10.am; DSTV: 10am
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