Date-stamped : 17 Feb1998 - 22:19 17 Feb 1998 McMillan in selection poser Trevor Chesterfield Johannesburg - Enigmatic all-rounder Brian McMillan was not too far from the thoughts of South Africa's selectors at a rain-soaked Wanderers yesterday. With the opening test of the three-match series against Pakistan now as lame as any Sheikhapura duck once the controversial ridden game was rained off yesterday, Peter Pollock's panel were given plenty of time to mull over their options. McMillan, the top slip fieldsman in the South African camp, has been given an few extra days to prove his fitness in time for the second test of the series at Kingsmead in Durban next week. But the bottom line, if there is one in the murky waters of a selection room, is whether Pollock and Co have been able to find a place for him in the side. With South Africa's catching at an all-time low with 15 being spilled in the last two tests and a day still to go, the need for a relibale catcher in the slips is important. Not that he was able to do much about it at Adelaide Oval where the ball flew everywhere except in his direction. Although his bowling was suspect in Australia, a seamer friendly pitch at Kingsmead could be the answer to the solving the contrasting problems afflicting national selectors thinking. Jacques Kallis had a good third spell on Monday, but did little else to warrant his role as support seamer to Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock. About the only thing against McMillan is that he is not the most popular player among the selectors at present. When they sat down to a late lunch (around 2pm yesterday) with Hansie Cronje dashing off to a discussion with his deputy, Gary Kirtsen, the selectors indicated that most of the job had been done. The inside word is that Mac is back, Jonty in out and, the man who helped break a world test record as well as establish another, Pat Symcox, may not even retain his place in the team at Kingsmead. It doesn't mean he will not be in the 12 or 13 names to be announced later today when the match which has provided more information off the field than on it is finally abandoned as a weather-affectedd draw. Whiled being culled from the final side may seem harsh treatment for a batting hero at the Wanderers, the reality is that no spinner has played in a Kingsmead test since Omar Henry in 1992-93. No doubt Pollock (snr) will sweeten the bitter pill a little, and even Symmo was settling down to the thought of putting his feet up for five days at Kingsmead. What the selectors will no doubt decide after another chat today is Cronje coming back with McMillan and HD Ackerman, 1 000 first-class runs under his belt at this stage of the season being added to the squad. McMillan should, his debilitating ankle injury excepted, make the side with Rhodes consigned to a spectator's role. Herschelle Gibbs is likely to make way for Cronje, but remain as 12th man and Ackerman given a taste of the test camp scenario. There has been speculation Daryll Cullinan is going to be dropped to make way for an extra seamer, either Fanie de Villiers or Steve Elworthy. The is designed to beef up an attack which was, at times on Sunday and Monday, decidedly one dimensional and lacking in penetration. Only with the selectors displaying a decidedly conservative chances of De Villiers or Elworthy cracking a place is off the beaten track. The plan is to win a series with a side they know, not one which might go an do it for them and prove them wrong. Possible team: Gary Kirsten, Adam Bacher, Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Andrew Huson, Hansie Cronje, Brian McMillan, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Lance KLusener, Allan Donald, Pat Symcox, Hershelle Gibbs. Contributed by Trevor Chesterfield