Panic is never far behind in the middle of unexpected defeats. Riding high on their success in Australia and brought down with a thud against the same opposition at home, the South African selectors are doing themselves no favours, as is obvious from the line up for the third Test.
There is no saying that any of the selections do not deserve merit of featuring in a Test team. But what bothers immensely in the manner in which changes have been wrung, almost as if with no second thought and as if the need of the hour was finding a scapegoat.
There was little doubt injured captain Graeme Smith felt distraught by the changes. But it was Jacques Kallis, a late captaincy announcement with Ashwell Prince pushed back, who would have to deal with a newly put together team. It made little sense to send two of the hardest trying men off the team. Therefore, there was grave concern and disappointment on the faces of Smith and coach Mickey Arthur when Neil McKenzie and Morne Morkel were dropped in the aftermath of the second Test in Durban which South Africa lost to give the Australian team an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three Test series.
While there is no doubt there is room for improvement, one has to question if rash decisions could fill a hole, especially when there will no consistent try out as the next Test is not likely to happen in the next six months at least! By that measure, who merits selections then with a proposed Test series against England will also raise eyebrows.
While blooding youngsters such as Imran Khan in the opening position and Albie Morkel in the all rounder’s role, especially in a dead rubber scenario, one has to wonder whether they can be promised a longer run and what happens in the interim. Can there be a comeback for Neil McKenzie if Imran Khan is judged on this match alone? What will Morne Morkel, who is certainly considered the more accomplished specialist bowlers than his all rounder elder brother, have to do to take his place back from Albie?
Ashwell Prince will continue to be the selectors’ nightmare, now that JP Duminy is not going anywhere. While Smith’s absence has allowed Prince to enter into the picture, thrusting Prince into a role he has never been in, that too in a Test against Australia that South Africa must win if only to prove they have not been a fluke and that they have not lost their magic touch, there is just too much mind boggling about the way this series defeat has been handled, not by the team but by the selectors, that it is a major off field distraction.
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