Tshwete grumbling over selection policy

His unsympathetic message to the UCB's policy was one of the politician not the former ``Mr Fix-it'' of South African sport. Not a word of praise about the demographics surrounding the under/19 team soon to head for Pakistan under the captaincy of Pinelands educated Thami Tsolokile, from Langa. But that's politicians for you: selective comment deriding the selection process as transformation starts to take shape

So, instead of congratulating South Africa's emphatic 3-0 lead in the series, the Minister of Sport took a few cheap shots to brush up his image at the expense of Messrs Pollock and Co.

While Lance Klusener's return had been confidently predicted for the Newlands test of the series against the West Indies, the national selectors, as should have been expected, largely remained faithful to those who have established such a convincing 3-0 lead after the victory by nine wickets in the third match at 1.52 pm on.

In fact Pollock indicated that team selection was an ``on-going process'' and they had been given the right select whom they thought was best to fill the roles. But when it came to the selection for Newlands it was clearly a time when choices had to be made and one is the dropping of Symcox and reintroducing Klusener.

Whether Symmo will be around for the tour to New Zealand as a limited-overs player is another matter, but from Pollock's comments, the selection panel convener indicated that Symcox's use a test player has come to an end. ``Symmo has been left out,'' came the unusually blunt comment from the convener. ``He disappointed us with his bowling. He has been a contributor with the bat but unfortunately his bowling has been the same as it was before.''

Although he dangled the limited-overs carrot as some form of comeback for the grizzled veteran, who was in danger of being cited for bringing the game into disrepute for remarks made to Courtney Walsh when the South African all-rounder was batting on Sunday, his test career has come to an end.

At Kingsmead he looked far from convincing, giving away more than one four-ball an over. It was argued that on TV replay evidence he should have had Brian Lara's wicket on Monday and his fourth scalp of the series. His Kingsmead figures were 0/17 and 0/43, and in the selectors view ``he was not doing a good job''. It was also admitted the only pitch which has suited him in this series was the one at the Wanderers where he picked up three wickets.

Pollock, no doubt in a jovial mood after the South Africans went 3-0 up in the five-match series, said Klusener's inclusion was that of the third seamer at Newlands, although he did admit that there is ``still a chance he may not play''. This came after praise of the 21-year-old red-haired David Terbrugge's role in the first three tests: his eight wickets have been at a fraction more than 22.00 runs an over. Not bad at all for a rookie, but the selectors, no doubt with the new Newlands reputation for helping the quicks, going into a test with five fast and seam or swing bowlers in as enticing prospect.

``We were pleased with the way Lance bowled on a pitch which did not suit fast bowling. He impressed us and we have included him as part of our current policy,'' Pollock said.

But this is doubtful as the Adams selection, with its political undertones, is a wise enough move for the Newlands crowd. It also might entice Western Province to rethink their policy. So far they have preferred Claude Henderson to Adams and should he play, as seems likely, the choice as test bowler may nudge the Province selectors.

It was Nic Pothas who indicated in Pietermaritzburg after the South African A game that Adams seemed to ``be getting there again but is not quite ready.'' The 12th man's role has gone to Ashwell Prince who may yet find himself in the squad for the New Zealand tour.

The squad is:

Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Hansie Cronje (capt), Jonty Rhodes, Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher, Allan Donald, David Terbrugge, Paul Adams. Twelfth man: Ashwell Prince