3rd One-day: West Indies v South Africa - Preview

Hansie Cronje's team will be eager to come back from a thorough hiding in East London over the weekend and, after their narrow escape in the first game at the Wanderers, South Africa will be aware that they have let the tourists off the hook after battering them so mercilessly in the Tests.

South Africa's bowling, Shaun Pollock and Lance Klusener apart, was poor in East London and it will be interesting to see who is chosen to back up the two Natal all-rounders on their home ground on Wednesday.

Of course, political considerations could come into play, but on purely cricketing grounds, an attack of Pollock, Steve Elworthy or Andrew Hall, Klusener, Pat Symcox, Jacques Kallis and Cronje makes sense.

Off-spinner Symcox, back at the ground on which he worked wonders for Natal in several day/night games, would return for Nicky Boje, while either Elworthy, who would enjoy the bounce of the Kingsmead pitch, Gauteng all-rounder Hall or Kallis could take the new ball with Pollock.

Amongst the batsmen, it will be very pleasing if a space can be found for Dale Benkenstein, who has looked in top-class form since his return from injury, on his home turf.

To fit the Natal captain in, changes would have to be made at the top of the order though. Kallis, Cronje and Jonty Rhodes would have positions three, four and five sown up, meaning another change to the so-far unsuccessful South African opening partnership. Gary Kirsten and Darryll Cullinan have been cornerstones of the team for some time, but playing both of them would lead to an all-white team and the axing of Mike Rindel after just one outing.

Cullinan, who failed - along with Kirsten - in the first two internationals, is such a naturally quick scorer however, that there have been moves to make him a limited-overs opener - so much so that Gauteng, his province, were asked to use him in this role at the start of the season. Wednesday's match could give the selectors their first chance of seeing the 31-year-old strokeplayer opening the batting in this series.

The West Indies finally broke South Africa's domination of a beleagured tour in East London, but much will depend on captain Brian Lara leading the way at Kingsmead if they are to capitalise on their fine weekend showing.

While the tourists' delight after the second one-day international was justifiable, a closer look at what happened at the weekend meeting would stand them in good stead. Their match-winning total was entirely due to tremendous centuries from Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Carl Hooper, the rest of the batsmen contributing practically nothing to the wealth of runs.

Lara, the jewel in the West Indies crown, has had an unhappy tour, battling with his team and his own form, but he has demolished the bowling in awesome style on his last two visits to Kingsmead.

In the recent Boxing Day Test, he provided the most scintillating batting of the match, scoring 51 and 79 with 15 fours, while he registered his maiden ODI century at the same ground, a majestic 128 against Pakistan in 1993. His team need him to lead from the front and if he comes off, with Hooper and Chanderpaul also in great form, the South African bowlers could take enormous punishment.

The veteran Curtly Ambrose continues to amaze with his ability with the new ball, but his two back-up pacemen, Nixon McLean and Reon King, have still to show much development on this tour.

Lara's use of his bowlers was baffling in the first international at the Wanderers, but he has no doubt learnt a painful lesson from that narrow defeat, and the experienced Hooper can expect to bowl out his maximum of 10 overs, with new boys Keith Semple and Neil McGarrell given less demanding spells.

If there are changes to the visiting side it will likely be amongst the batsmen, with Philo Wallace's position at the start of the order again under scrutiny. But the opener with the build of a heavyweight boxer is rated by the West Indians as a potential match-winner and is likely to get another chance, especially with the only other batsmen in the squad being Junior Murray, Darren Ganga and Floyd Reifer.

With the West Indies morale restored, the series level at 1-1 and a capacity crowd expected, cricket fans will not need much coaxing to watch what should be another intriguing tussle.

Jonty Rhodes fans will be happy to know that the Edward Griffiths biography will be on sale at the ground for half-price, at the request of the Natal star to acknowledge the support of Durban cricket lovers throughout his career.

Squads

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

West Indies: Philo Wallace, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Nixon McLean, Brian Lara (capt), Carl Hooper, Keith Arthurton, Ridley Jacobs, Keith Semple, Neil McGarrell, Curtly Ambrose, Reon King, Junior Murray, Darren Ganga, Floyd Reifer, Rawl Lewis.

TV: SABC 1 2 pm.