A Smith-less Proteas in ODI challenge Down Under

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Sreelata YellamrazuJan 9 2009

by Trevor Chesterfield

It is hard to believe South Africa going into a series without Graeme Smith's leadership. But an elbow injury and a broken hand are enough have sidelined him for the limited-overs crunch with Australia.

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As the Proteas battled in England without the big man, also known as Biff, there are suggestions that the series of slogs will not so much decide current ODI rankings as whether South Africa have managed to progress at this level since England.

No one can take South Africa's recent series against lowly Bangladesh too seriously. The brand played by those in the Bengal enclave has gone backwards since India snapped up Dav Whatmore after the 2007 World Cup. Since then he has impressively redeveloped their youth academy and Bangladesh have slipped sideways and backwards.

But South Africa's Two Test wins by an innings followed by a rain affected T20 win and two one-sided ODI results with one rain-off in East London, suggested a pygmy involved in battle with a Mammoth: one-sided, tired and attracting little attention, even in Bangladesh.

Smith, aka Biff the Cruncher, plundered heavily after recovering from treatment to a tennis elbow problem that cost him and South Africa in the NatWest series in England. When the elbow became too agonising to bear, Jacques Kallis took over for the last three games with big defeats and a 4-0 series loss.

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In his place for the limited overs in Australia is Johan Botha, a 26-year-old who has played in this role before on a limited scale against Bangladesh and Kenya, but is going to be tested. Essentially seen as a one-day player, he is an off-spinner who can bat a bit and regarded highly by the coach Mickey Arthur.

There are a couple of blips on his radar though. He had a suspect action and was cited in India, although there had been loud whispers around the pavilions during South Africa A's tour of Sri Lanka in 2005 about the kink in the elbow that allowed more than the 15 degrees latitude allowed by the International Cricket Council.

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Sure he had remedial action, but was reported again by the umpires, and went through another period of what they call rehabilitation. Whether he is South Africa's answer as a caretaker captain in the absence of Kallis and Mark Boucher is another question that needs debating. However, after all the political and selection problems of last year and team upheavals with Justin Kemp joining the banned Indian Cricket League adding to the problem of player availability, Botha received approval as a provisional stand in.

There is the feeling with Smith deciding against surgery until after the home Tests against Australia, and if able to continue, lead in the following five slogs, Botha is seen as a 'maybe' as opposed to the airbrushed 'wannabe'. He was a spare parts operator in 2005/06 where South Africa failed to qualify for the final and where Australia muscled out Sri Lanka.

Apart from all this, the limited-overs quad for the coming five games is starting to take shape as a build up to CWC11. There is experience as well as promising youth, although there is a list of promising young names in the wings that should emerge next season.

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South Africa's selection convener Mike Procter felt the squad was a foundation for future planning. Although Smith is missing, the strategy is to give as many players as possible a chance to develop their shorter game skills. This means, Procter added with a smile that with five fast bowlers in the squad a rotation policy is being used to get maximum opportunity as well as results, starting with the two T20 games in Melbourne on Sunday and Brisbane next Tuesday.

Confirmation of the rotation policy emerged from tour media sources, suggesting how with the skills of all-rounders Kallis and Albie Morkel, the Proteas would use the two T20 games to check the strategy.

Morne Morkel gave added insight into the tough schedule the two teams have had over the Test series with the three matches following one on top of the other. The Australians are not resting Mitchell Johnson from the majority of limited overs matches while Peter Siddle will miss the T20 engagements.

'The recovery period available to us as fast bowlers is important,' said Morkel. 'It has been quite a draining time, particularly with back-to-back Tests. I don't think we have to worry about our skills. Those have always been there, maybe just a bit of work on our slower balls and death bowling. The important thing will be getting our bodies a hundred percent again.'

Morkel said the arrival of four fresh players, including the experienced Herschelle Gibbs, would do a lot to revitalise the squad.

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'Herschelle is a special man in the team and he also adds a lot of experience. Fresh faces bring new vibes, so it is lovely to have these guys here.'

One of the other positives is that Albie Morkel will again be able to fill the role of an all-rounder.

'It's been a long recovery process,' said the elder Morkel brother about his recent shoulder problem. 'I have had seven weeks of rehab and I have changed my throwing action in the field, just to get all my muscles working again. I made a comeback against Bangladesh, which, according to the medical staff, was too soon. This led to more time off but I must say that now I am feeling a lot stronger.

'I haven't bowled in a game yet. Unfortunately the last two domestic games were washed out but I have bowled a lot in the nets and I feel good.'

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Albie Morkel admits he is looking forward to the challenge of playing in front of a full house at the MCG.

"I was fortunate to play in the IPL where we had crowds up to 100 000. This sort of crowd always brings out the best in players. I have not played at the MCG before. I did come here with the South African A side in 2004 but we didn't play here. I am definitely looking forward to it. It is an amazing place to play in front of a huge crowd.

The 50/50 version of the game gives his brother Morne further opportunities to develop his batting.

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'It is definitely one of my aims to develop my batting,' he said. 'You can't just rely on one discipline. I want to see myself as a bowling all-rounder in the years to come. I have been working hard with Mickey (Arthur) and with Duncan (Fletcher) when he was over here. I am definitely moving in the right direction and it is just a case of getting my mental side right.'

Note: Prior permission has sought from the author before republication of the above article.

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