Date-stamped : 21 Jan97 - 22:16 20 January 1997 Time to Draft Young Talent for One-Dayers Colin Bryden Picking a one day squad has become relatively easy task for the national selectors in recent times. Since the 6-1 drubbing of England early last year, basically the same squad has carried the nation`s flag through the World Cup, then in Sharjah, Kenya and India. With a triangular series against India and Zimbabwe when South Africa meet India in Bloemfontein on Thursday, now may be a good time to review our limited overs strategy. With 25 wins from 30 matches in 1996 it is clear that South Afri- ca have an excellent one-day squad, although the handful of losses were costly. They missed out in the World Cup, lost to the World Cup champions Sri Lanka in Kenya in their only chance to prove some sort of point about world supremacy and were beaten in the final of the Titan Cup by India after drubbing their hosts in three round robin games. Although there is plenty at stake in the triangular series, not least the R300 000 team bonus for reaching and then winning the final, it may be time to start thinking about the next World Cup. These do not need to be revolutionary thoughts but when the selectors consider their options before announcing a 13 of 14- man squad tomorrow they might take into account how old players will be in May and June 1999 when the World Cup is held in Eng- land. Will today`s heroes still be capable of winning matches? If this is unlikely, younger players should be drafted in, although only in cases were the challenger is on on a par with the incum- bent. At the risk of being regarded as heretical, it may even be time for Dave Richardson, who is starting to show some frailty behind the stumps, to sit out the one-dayers and for a younger man to be given a chance to show his worth. Richardson would still be the probable choice for the Test series against Australia but he will not be around for the World CUp, when he will be 39. Border`s 20 year-old Mark Boucher seems to be the choice of those who have seen a reasonable number of provincial wicketkeepers in action this summer. Why not take a leaf from Pakistan`s book and give the youngster a chance? Although there were spinners galore in India, it is unlikely that both Pat Symcox and Nicky Boje will be chosen in South African conditions. Symcox was splendidly miserly in India, conceding only 3.92 runs per over but Boje took more wickets (nine against seven) and was only slightly more gen- erous, giving away 4.26 runs an over. Symcox will be 39 in 1999, Boje 26. Fanie de Villiers, not for the first time in his career, suffered a freak injury this week, this time to the fingers of his left hand while mowing the lawn. He and Craig Matthews have been au- tomatic choices for one-day squads when fit but both will be 34 when the World Cup comes around. De Villiers would have been a probable choice for the forthcoming series but there might not have been room for both he and Matthews. The latter will now surely come back into the squad. Jonty Rhodes will not find it easy to return to the Test team but his matchless fielding ability and experience should keep him in the one-day squad, although it will be at the expense of a promising younger man such as Herschelle Gibbs or Jacques Kallis. Rhodes only turns 30 after the World Cup and is likely to play an important part in South Africa`s challenge. India`s prospects for the limited overs series will be improved by the addition of the exuberant Ajay Jadeja and spirited Robin Singh to their squad. Having beaten South Africa in the last two one-day inter- nationals played by the teams, they will not be underestimated. Zimbabwe were thrashed when South Africa made a short tour last season but national selector Mike Proctor, who was in Zimbabwe, warns that the 3-0 conquerors of England are a useful team. "They are an outstanding fielding team, almost as good as South Africa," he said. "They have two quality quick bowlers in Heath Streak and Eddo Brandes and a really good legspinner in Paul Strang. They have some capable batsmen who have had quite a lot of experience, so altogether I rate as a professional outfit who need to be take seriously." South Africa though will be favourites in home conditions whether or not they choose to take a tentative peek ahead to 1999. My squad would be: Hansie Cronje (capt), Andrew Hudson, Gary Kir- sten, Adam Bacher, Daryll Cullinan, Jonty Rhodes, Brian McMillan, Shaun Pollock, Derek Crookes, Lance Klusener, Nicky Boje, Mark Boucher, Craig Matthews, Allan Donald. Confirmed Squads. India : Sachin Tendulkar (capt), Vikram Rathore, Rahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguly, Mohammad Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja, VVS Laxman (will be replaced), Nayan Mongia, Robin Smith, Javagal Srinath, Sunil Josi, Anil Kumble, Salil Ankola, Dodda Ganesh, Venkatesh Prasad, Syed Saba Karim Zimbabwe: Alistair Campbell (capt), Andy Flower, Eddo Brandes, Stuart Carlisle, Craig Evans, Grant Flower, Dave Houghton, Ever- ton Matambanadzo, John Rennie, Paul Strang, Heath Streak, Andy Waller, Andrew Whittal, Guy Whittal, Craig Wishart Source :: Sunday Times Contributed by Tony.Hassett (hasett@scientia.up.ac.za)