An Old Tale Of Committee Captaincy Looms

by Trevor Chesterfield

You are certain of one thing. South Africa’s makeshift limited-overs captain Johan Botha will not be short on advice.

With Mark Boucher, Jacques Kallis and Neil McKenzie in the Proteas slog squad, Botha will probably be head of an on-field committee for the T20 wallop and whack efforts in Melbourne and Brisbane that lead up to the Commonwealth Bank 50/50 smorgasbord slog-a-long.

As Botha is not even captain of the Eastern Cape franchise, for which he plays between ODI series around the globe, the advice of how to handle what comes in handy with bigger names offering comments. Not that Botha is green when it comes to Australia. He was often the specialist substitute they had in those days as of the one-day game.

It was one of two experiments the International Cricket Council’s cricket committee, under then Sunil Gavaskar, recommended along with the power-plays. It was axed after a trial, the view being that the experiment was flawed, often giving one team an advantage over another in the choice of player. Also, England coach Duncan Fletcher sensibly argued against trialling two experiments at the same time.

I also felt the ’super sub’ as it was labelled, allowed for too much manipulation in rain affected games, which was often the case in the then VB triangular series. Sri Lanka who edged South Africa, used leg-spin all-rounder Malinga Bandara to great affect in the super-sub position, a strategy that often worked as he was pulled into the side when one of the regular bigger-name bowlers failed.

In the third game of the series in Brisbane, Bandara replaced opening batsman Upul Tharanga as a full substitute and collected three wickets and aided in a run out as Marvan Atapattu led the side to an important victory.

As Bandara was a nifty fielder, it was an interesting choice and gave him the exposure needed to develop his game. Unfortunately, as he doesn’t work for the same bank as one of the selectors he fails to earn a second glance, yet to keep him thinking he might get a recall, he gets named as one of the series standbys.

But as South Africa and Australia match up in a one-on-one series and explain that Botha’s role as captain is a nominal one, Morne Morkel suggested in an interview how the only part he may play in leading the side is to go out and toss and lead the side on the field. From this point the committee will take over.

Yet, as the absentee captain Graeme Smith admits, how rebuilding and transition are the ‘buzz words’ for the two sides: switching focus after the Tests to a T20 and ODI arena that is creates its own selection and strategic policies for very different reasons.

What needs to be remembered is how, with the T20 ICC Trophy in England in June, and also the postponed ICC Champions Trophy set for Pakistan, both short forms of the game will have new faces and names to be checked out.

For Australia, there are Ryan Harris (T20), Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle and Shaun Marsh, while South Africa have decided to give talented batsman Vaughn van Jaarsveld, all-rounder Wayne Parnell and fast bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

‘There are a lot of young boys in our side and their performances will be up and down,’ Smith commented. ‘We are hoping that those in the mix will display their known skills. It will be interesting to watch them in action. I’ll be doing it off the TV though.’

While the T20 is the type of game where anything can happen, the Bank series will be a matter of finding who is up to it and who is not. South Africa were hammered 4-0 in England last year and there is the feeling this could be a similar result.

As Smith and the coach Mickey Arthur have explained, it is a question of looking for the small things. Such as whether Van Jaarsveld can carry over his domestic form at a higher level and how might Tsotsobe shape stepping up to senior international level.

The 24-year-old Xhosa-speaking Lonwabo has impressed with his attitude and confidence and his left-arm fast bowling is an added dimension. See as the heir to Makhaya Ntini’s place in the side when he retires, the young man has some English county experience with Sussex Seconds. Brett Schultz he is not, but his ability to bring the ball back in the classic left-arm fast bowler’s manner, in the fashion of Chaminda Vaas and Zaheer Khan, adds to his dynamism as a bowler.

Ntini, rested from the series ODIs against Kenya and Bangladesh, can do much to redefine his role in the side as the senior bowler and aid Lonwabo along with Dale Steyn, hoping to find a permanent place in the side.

Much interest will centre on Herschelle Gibbs and his form as well as behaviour. His wayward past behaviour has seen him re-earn selection. Despite numerous transgressions, he has retained the support of teammates, and that of Smith and Arthur, who have gone out of their way to have him re-included in the one-day squad for this series.

Selection convener Mike Procter had to be convinced that Gibbs could add value to the side, as he is aware of his talent and match-winning abilities. These you understand are not being questioned. What is, are his temperament and consistency. Maybe looking over his shoulder at the fallen Queensland idol Matthew Hayden is not a bad idea, Now 37, Hayden was cut from the Australian limited overs team. Sure Gibbs is 34, but he is also moving into that age bracket. He will be 36 when the next World Cup and can ill-afford to be inconsistent on the field or reckless off it.

Which brings us back to Botha, who is genuine fighter, and despite being reported for his suspect action in the Sydney Test in 2006 he will stand up to the Australians. He was reported in this case by match referee Chris Broad and umpires Aleem Dar and Billy Bowden.

His bowling will be crucial and much as was Paul Harris during the Test series.

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