Kingsmead Test follow-up

As Hansie Cronje and Bob Woolmer aim for the small matter of world domination, Klusener's chances of a recall as South Africa try to make history and secure a 5-0 series win must be good. A cricketer of extremes, his controlled aggression with the ball will add a new dimension to a rampant attack, while his batting has an urgency that will more than make up for the loss of Pat Symcox in the lower-order.

The selection has, inevitably, attracted some controversy and Symcox will consider himself unfortunate with the team management sympathising with the veteran. Coach Woolmer admitted that ``Symcox will be missed, but he is coming towards the end of his career and we need to get Paul Adams, who is the only wrist-spinner in South African first-class cricket, back in form. Pat's been a bit unlucky because the last two Test pitches have not been conducive to spin, but at the Wanderers he picked up three wickets.''

One can only hope Adams, who took 13 wickets in his last four Tests on the England tour, can accept the challenge and produce the goods on his home ground. He has a top-class record of 59 wickets in 19 Tests. The selectors have not put Symcox on the shelf as yet, though, convenor Peter Pollock housing no doubts that the 38-year-old will play an important role in the World Cup come May and June.

Interestingly, the selectors also showed yesterday that they have not forgotten about Natal's Andrew Hudson, whose impressive batting against the West Indians in Chatsworth recently was a reminder of his enduring class.

They have extended his UCB contract by another four months, board managing director Ali Bacher saying the former opener, who has been batting in the Natal middle order of late, has been offered the extension as he is still ``very much in the selectors' thoughts''.

Although free from the pressure of trying to win the series, Cronje is still full of fighting talk in the aftermath of the Kingsmead triumph.

``We are getting stronger and stronger as a team but no one can charge us with complacency. The selectors have sent their message that there will be no compromises and we will come out firing at Newlands like we have in the previous three Tests. I won't be satisfied until we are indisputably at the pinnacle of Test cricket.''

While the South Africans just need to decide between Klusener and Terbrugge, the West Indians may have to replace both of their frontline bowlers =8B Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose. Walsh's hamstring injury on the final day of the Kingsmead Test was bad enough to warrant him being stretchered to the changeroom. There was no further word on his condition from the West Indian camp yesterday, but the former captain is almost certain to have to fly home early. Ambrose has fluid on the knee and the key to his availability is whether he will be able to get through five days of cricket.

The West Indian management are already looking at possible fast bowling replacements but in the meantime their pace attack may have to be led by the impressive Franklyn Rose and Nixon McLean.

Hansie Cronje's men are looking to become the first South African team to register a 5-0 series win and cleaning up in such emphatic fashion would also give West Indies cricket, such a feared machine in the late '70s and '80s, their worst ever drubbing.

With their tour going from bad to worse while the South Africans go from strength to strength, this fate may yet befall the current West Indians unless the weekend brings a dramatic change in fortunes.