Cronje looks for a whitewash

Having already exploded the myth of West Indies pace as a weapon of destruction, South Africa are now aiming to achieve a little history of their own and wrap up their first 5-0 whitewash when the final test of the series begins at Centurion Park today.

Just the sort of gift to the nation that Hansie Cronje, and his patriotic side have prepared for as the importance of the possible outcome of the series starts to sink in. Even the Windies are starting to feel the pressure as Brian Lara, their captain, admitted after the team's practice yesterday.

``South Africa have been better prepared and deserve to be in the position they are now,'' Lara said on a day which even the tourists found was hotter than most on their safari.

Cronje was just as open as Lara when he agreed the players had realised the significance of winning 5-0 ``and we will all be going flat out'' to achieve what only seven weeks ago was a ``dream but one we shared''. Just the sort of admission to inspire the side out-play a touring side with two legendary fast bowlers in Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh and a crop of highly promising youngsters, with Reon King's late arrival yesterday adding to the list.

And Cronje was brave enough to admit he had not started the series with a 5-0 in mind. ``Not after the disappointment in England,'' he said. ``We wanted to take this series game by game and work on our skills and disciplines. So far things have worked out well for us.''

While the South African skipper hoped ``all the players would be fit'' the only grey smudge on the horizon is Allan Donald's fitness. He was to have had a noon-day work out in the middle but this was changed instead to a tough net session and then the decision was to wait until shortly before the captains toss.

Cronje was hopeful that both Donald and Shaun Pollock would share the new ball. Which is understandable as they have been the two bowlers whom South Africa owe much for the part they have played in this series. Both have achieved records surpassed personal goals. Just what Cronje and Co needed to subdue the West Indians who have failed to make an impact.

As Cronje was also prepared to agree, the presence of David Terbrugge and Jacques Kallis helped maintain the pressure on the West Indian batsmen once the Donald-Pollock partnership had done their bit. And as much as Pollock has emerged as a leading candidate for the man of the series award, although Jonty Rhodes sneaked in the Kingsmead test the contribution cannot be overlooked.

When Donald was injured at Newlands it was to Kallis whom Cronje turned to help win the game. Yet it has been his consistency at three in the order which has helped South Africa maintain more orderly batting progress at the top: 375 runs at an average of 75 is the sort of work rate Cronje and the coach, Bob Woolmer, would be looking for from this talented all-rounder.

At the Wanderers, in the first match, and with South Africa facing a low target to win, and so often a problem area when batting fourth on a wearing pitch, it was Kallis, who at two for 14 in the 10th over gave the side just the sort of confidence South Africa needed at a time of mini crisis. His youthful exuberance yet calming influence anchored that innings.

He did it again in Port Elizabeth on a pitch suited more to nasty form of batting Russian Roulette than run-making. But throughout, he has shown maturity and the sort of shot selection which made Cronje and Woolmer signal him out as one of the stars of the series.

Hopefully Terbrugge can recapture his ability to swing the ball more than he has done most of the series.

The Windies plan, well as we know it, is a restructured top-order with birthday boy Darren Ganga, who turned 20 yesterday, opening with Stuart Williams. As an experiment it is interesting. Unorthodox perhaps, but the Windies have rarely shied away from such methods. While history looms for South Africa and the knowledge that an incredible 5-0 thrashing of the West Indies is a possibility, the danger is that the tourists may yet turn something around in this last test. It is not out of the question, but the way they have performed, is unlikely.

Teams:

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

West Indies (possible): Stuart Williams, Darren Ganga, Philo Wallace, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Brian Lara (capt), Carl Hooper, Ridley Jacobs, Nixon McLean, Rawl Lewis, Curtly Ambrose, Reon King, Courtney Walsh, Junior Murray, Clayton Lambert.

Umpires: Rudi Koertzen and Srinivas Venkataraghavan; TV: Dave Orchard.
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka).
Hours of play: 10.30 am-12.30pm; 1.10pm-3.10pm; 3.30-5.30pm. (Minimum of 90 overs a day)
TV: SABC 1, 10.am; DSTV: 10am