South Africa reveal World Cup hand
by Cricket Archive Staff Reporter
| Player: | LE Bosman, R Telemachus, HH Dippenaar, MN van Wyk, AN Petersen, JP Duminy, AC Thomas, DW Steyn, JJ van der Wath, JH Kallis, MV Boucher, M Ntini, AJ Hall, A Nel, CK Langeveldt, HH Gibbs |
| Event: | Pakistan in South Africa 2006/07 |
DateLine: 1st February 2007
The South African cricket selectors revealed their likely World Cup
hand when they announced a 15-man squad for a five-match, one-day
international series against Pakistan starting at Centurion Sunday.
The squad included seven black players, meeting the World Cup target
announced by Cricket South Africa chief executive Gerald Majola in
February 2005.
No mention was made of the target by Cricket SA in a statement
announcing the squad for the Pakistan series. Selection convener Haroon
Lorgat said: "We are confident in our one-day squad and have therefore
retained the players that have performed for us over the
past two seasons."
Thirteen of the players, including five black cricketers, were
generally regarded as automatic choices. The remaining two places went
to Loots Bosman and Roger Telemachus.
Lorgat said the final 15-man squad for the World Cup in the West Indies
would be announced on February 15, the day after the Pakistan series
ends.
But South African coach Mickey Arthur has said he wants to use the
Pakistan series, South Africa's last before the World Cup, as a dress
rehearsal. Changes therefore are unlikely before the final squad is
named.
Bosman, 29, a hard-hitting opening batsman, and seam bowler Telemachus,
33, could both be regarded as marginal choices.
Bosman, who has played in seven one-day internationals with modest
success, was picked as an extra batsman ahead of the experienced Boeta
Dippenaar, who was man of the series when South Africa won a one-day
series against the West Indies in the Caribbean two seasons ago, form
player Morne van Wyk and fellow black players Alviro Petersen and JP
Duminy.
Telemachus, 33, is renowned as a tough competitor. He has played in 37
one-day internationals and gained the extra bowler's position ahead of
in-form fellow black player Alfonso Thomas and white bowlers Dale Steyn
and Johan van der Wath.
Thomas and Van Wyk were both included in a 12-man squad for a Twenty20
international in Johannesburg Friday, ahead of the one-day series.
Leading players Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel,
Andrew Hall and Charl Langeveldt were rested from the Twenty20 match.
Batsman Herschelle Gibbs, serving a two-match suspension, is not
eligible for the Twenty20 match or the first one-day international.
South African squads: One-day internationals: Graeme Smith (captain),
Jacques Kallis (vice-captain), Loots Bosman, Mark Boucher, AB de
Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Justin Kemp, Charl Langeveldt,
Andrč Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince
and Roger Telemachus.
Twenty20 international: Graeme Smith (captain), Shaun Pollock
(vice-captain), Loots Bosman, Gulam Bodi, AB de Villiers, Justin Kemp,
Albie Morkel, Robin Peterson, Roger Telemachus, Alfonso Thomas, Johan
van der Wath and Morne van Wyk.
