Although Allan Donald, set to play his 100th ODI game against Pakistan at Super Sport Centurion today, is also on the wrong side of 30, the number of veterans involved in the 15-strong squad includes players with more than 350 dometic limited-overs.
With an estimated 25 ODI games looming between next month and March next year, the programme is hectic enough. But the veterans bring with them a wealth of experience, skills and exptertise.
Mike Rindel, Pat Symcox, Steve Elworthy and Donald have the sort of experience at limited-overs level which dates back to the mid-1980s. One of the arguments used in favour of the policy of utilising the veterans is that they bring stability to the side as well as playing depth and a pool of knowledge which youngsters do not have.
They may be battle-scarred, weather beaten foot soldiers in the trenches of ODI warfare, but the vets have proved a point. Donald is one of the key components and its likely to play today to rest Shaun Pollock's groin injury. With Elworthy over his bout of flu an attack of Donald, Elworthy, Roger Telemachus and Lance Klusener have the makings of a tough quartet.
It has been pointed out that it has been Rindel's ability to anchor the innings when he has to, which has worked in South Africa's favour. And Symcox and Elworthy are added street fighters needed to combat the abrasive teams such as Australia, West Indies and Pakistan.
Their ability to take it as well as dish it out is also important.
It is, say sources close to the team, the right mix with a blend of experience and youth. It is the younger players who are learning from the older players and this is where the added depth comes into giving South Africa the edge in not only the Standard Bank Series but also the two ODI series in England later this year.
There are other limited-overs series which also need attention: the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia and the October tournament on Blangladesh to raise funds for the ICC gloablisation development programme. There there are the one-day series next season against the West Indies and New Zealand.
All this, say the sourcers, leads us to the World Cup next May and June in England. By that time they will be ready for the tough battles demanded of sides in the World Cup.
It was Peter Pollock, convener of the national selectors, who with support from the captain, Hansie Cronje, and coach, Bob Woolmer, highlighted the advantages of a larger squad than normal to see South Africa develop a match-winning formula.
``We have gone for experience as we firmly believe it is the way to go,'' Pollock admitted, which was not so much throwing out a policy of growth through youth but reinvesting in youth through the older players.
``This is the squad which could see us through to the World Cup in June next year. Injuries may affect the rotation system, but it has worked well so far in this series,'' he added.
South Africa have had one off-key game this series and that was against a resurgent Sri Lanka in Port Elizabeth on Monday. One of the problems in that game was the lack of fast bowling support for Shaun Pollock. A technical flaw in Roger Telemachus' action saw the Sri Lankans, Arjuna Ranatunga in particular, knock him out of the attack in his second spell.
Cronje did not seem to be too keen to bring him back for a third spell; not that the South Africa skipper had the sort of day he would care to remember.
South Africa go into the game against Pakistan today and Sri Lanka in Bloemfontein on Sunday needing a victory to reach the final at Newlands on Wednesday.
Teams:
South Africa (from): Gary Kirsten, Mike Rindel, Herschelle Gibbs, jacques kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Hanie Cronje (capt), Jonty Rhodes, Shaun Pollock, Mark Boucher, Lance Klusener, Pat Symcox, Steve Elworthy, Allan Donald, Derek Crookes, Roger Telemachus.
Pakistan (from): Saeed Anwar, Shahid Afridi, Ijaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Azhar Mahmood, Mohammad Hussain, Abdul Razzak, Wasim Akramm, Moin Khan, Mohammad Wasim, Rashid Latif (capt), Waqar Younis, Yousuf Youhana, Mushtaq Ahmed.
Umpires: Rudi Koetzern and Wulf Diedricks; TV umpire: Barry Lambson.
Match referee, John Reid.
Hours of play: 10.00.1.30; 2pm-5.30pm TV 1:9.30; M-Net DSV 10am