SA A ready for Aus onslaught
SOURCE: Supercricket - 04/09/2002

The assault to secure places in the South African cricket World Cup squad will begin in all earnest for Neil McKenzie and Company when South Africa A take on Australia A in the first of seven one-day matches in Potchefstroom on Wednesday.

McKenzie, who was surprisingly left out of the South African team for the recent triangular tournament in Morocco and from the International Cricket Council (ICC) Championship Trophy team, would want to make his mark, not only with his bat, but also with his role as captain of the A-side.

The 26-year-old batsman has already captained the South African Schools team, the SA u-19 team and the Northern Titans and many experts see him as the next South African captain.

With places up for grabs in the South African squad for the home series against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, as well as for the World Cup, the A-side would not be lacking in motivation.

Meanwhile, the national selectors would be training an eagle eye on the pace bowling sensation Mfuneko Ngam on Wednesday in the hope that he does not add another injury to his already long list of the same.

Ngam had the experts talking when he played Tests against New Zealand and Sri Lanka two seasons ago, but from there on he enjoyed most of his cricket from the wrong side of the boundary.

Gary Kirsten, the 35-year-old veteran opener, will also want to prove to the selectors that they made a mistake when leaving him out of the team for the ICC tournament. His inclusion in the A-side at least gives him another life, a privilege not offered to the Australian veterans Steve and Mark Waugh.

The teams are:

Australia A (from): Justin Langer (c), Simon Katich, Greg Blewett, Nathan Bracken, Ryan Campbell, Stuart Clark, Michael Clarke, Ian Harvey, Mark Higgs, Brad Hogg, Mike Hussey, Andrew Symonds, Brad Williams, Damien Wright.

South Africa A (from): Neil McKenzie (c), Loots Bosman, Steve Elworthy, Andrew Hall, Nantie Hayward, Justin Kemp, Gary Kirsten, André Nel, Mfuneko Ngam, Robin Peterson, Ashwell Prince, Jacques Rudolph, Errol Stewart, David Terbrugge, Thami Tsolekile, Martin van Jaarsveld.