World Cup dream loom for Northerns Duo

As Mike Rindel and Steve Elworthy have their limited-overs international careers extended by another series chances loom for places in the World Cup squad later this year.

Which is one cheerful bit of news for the Northerns all-rounders although not great for Peter Kiersten who has to find adequate replacements for two crucial slog games at the end of the month and slap in the middle of the Standard Bank seven match one-day series against the West Indies which starts at the Wanderers on Friday.

Whether the pair are likely to go to New Zealand will only be decided next week in Durban. But inclusion in the one-day side at least the selectors have included them in their thinking for the World Cup squad of 30, also announced yesterday.

Yet as they would be the first to admit ``now that hard work beings'' as they look toward retaining their place when the World Cup squad is cut to 19 at the end of February. Why 19 is an inetresting one, no doubt to provide the printers of the cup programmes with an idea of who is likely to head for the chill and damp of yet another English ... er summer.

There are those who though Rindel and Elworthy had not done enough to include selection, especially as names such as Ashwell Prince and Alan Dawson would get a look in. In fact apart from Andrew Hall, who earns his place on the form shown for Gauteng this season especially in the four-day game, the other new face is Victor Mpitsang, more likely to give him experince and a taste of the game at a higher level.

The selectors, headed by Peter Pollock, went largely for experinece and retained a majority of the one-day squad who played in England in the Emerites Triangular, Commonwealth Games and the Wills Cup in Bangladesh. No doubt this is why we see Dale Benkenstein, Nicky Boje and Pat Symcox back in the squad.

The 17-strong line up would also include Allan Donald and David Terbrugge, ruled out at present because of injury. Donald has hamstring worries and Terbrugge an ankle twinge.

Selection panel convener Pollock felt that they would be fit for consideration for the New Zealand tour next month. One name missing is Paul Adams who is now no doubt seen more as a test playerOne surprise for the series of seven against the Windies is Henry Williams as the Boland bowler is said to have a shoulder injury only a week ago, but that's just a rumour (or so we are led to believe).

As for the additional 11 who make up the World Cup 30 nameds such as Andrew Hudson, Adam Bacher, Dawson and Derek Crookes pop up along with Mornantau Hayward, Makhaya Ntini (''Purely on cricket grounds,'' said Pollock) along with Prince and Roger Telemachus.

The latter, we are told might be starting to bowl soon but we will believe that when it happens. Pollock said the selectors are happy about his progress. As he has not bowled since last May, it will be interesting to see where how accurate is their information. Crookes was upset at missing out on the squad for the series against the Windies as he felt he had recovered from a recent back injury. Which is not the official word from Gauteng.

Squad: Hansie Cronje (capt), Gary Kirsten, Mike Rindel, Daryll Cullinan, Jacques Kallis, Jonty Rhodes, Herschelle Gibbs, Shaun Pollock, Mark Boucher, Lance Klusener, Pat Symcox, Steve Elworthy, Nicky Boje, Dale Benkenstein, Andrew Hall, Victor Mpitsang, Henry Williams.

Also included: Allan Donald and David Terbrugge.

Added for World Cup: Adam Bacher, Derek Crookes, Alan Dawson, Tyrone Henderson, Mornantau Hayward, Justin Kemp, Makaya Ntini, Nic Pothas, Ashwell Prince, Roger Telemachus.