South Africa change their squad for the Newlands Test
By Bob Dubery
29 December 1998
JOHANNESBURG, The South African selectors have made one change to the
squad for the 4th Test of the current series - now secured by the
hosts - against the West Indies. Allrounder Lance Klusener returns at
the expense of Pat Symcox.
Symcox played in all of the first 3 matches, and his omission
guarantees a change in the South African bowling line-up. Paul Adams,
now the only spin bowler in the squad will almost certainly play and
so Klusener is likely to slot in at 9 in place of Symcox and ensure
that the sting in the South African batting tail remains potent.
So who will sit out? Probably David Terbrugge whose debut has been
respectable rather than spectacular.
Klusener's selection may be criticised in some quarters. Earlier this
month the UCB announced several changes to selectorial policy which
were designed to make sure that non-white players were given every
chance of representing their country. Amongst the changes announced
was a decision to consider promising ``development'' players for matches
that had no bearing on the outcome of a particular series.
South Africa have clinched the Test match series, but they have not
made the kind of team changes that were perhaps envisaged - although
it is highly probable that another non-white player, Adams, will be
included in the actual playing eleven. Whether or not this will
placate those elements within the government who have suggested that
the UCB is still run along racial lines remains to be seen.
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