Gritty McKenzie steps back into Test frame
Source: Sundaytimes - COLIN BRYDEN- 3rd Novemver 2002

Neil McKenzie, who appears to have been harshly treated by the national selectors, is at least two steps closer to the Test team than two weeks ago.

Successive innings of 102 for Northerns against the Highveld Strikers and 160 for South Africa A against the Sri Lankans brought him strongly back into contention and ended a nightmare start to the season.

Omar Henry, convener of the national selectors, was in Kimberley when McKenzie and another Test discard, Boeta Dippenaar (134), put on 256 for the third wicket against the Lankans. "It was fantastic, purposeful batting," said Henry.

Unfortunately for both players, they did not make their runs against Muttiah Muralitharan, the off-spinner who will be Sri Lanka's main weapon in the two-Test series which starts at the Wanderers on Friday.

Nonetheless, Henry said the form of McKenzie and Dippenaar gave the selectors the sort of headache they like to have, a choice of more quality players than there are places.

The top four batsmen in the Test team, Graeme Smith, Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten and Jacques Kallis, all gorged themselves on the weak bowling attack of Bangladesh in the first two Tests of the season.

It didn't leave much opportunity for Ashwell Prince and Martin van Jaarsveld, who did not get to the crease for their only two innings of the series until more than 400 runs had been scored. Prince scored 2 and 0, Van Jaarsveld 39 not out and 11.

McKenzie may have to wait until the other batsmen have been subjected to greater scrutiny but he should not have been left out in the first place. For a player relatively new to Test cricket, McKenzie, 26, has a good record, with 1 359 runs in 24 Tests, average 36.72.

Henry said a factor for the selectors was the "conversion rate" of batsmen in the top six. McKenzie has made two centuries and nine fifties in 40 innings, which is not exceptional but not too far off the mark. Against Australia last season he had two solid series. He was third in the South African averages in Australia and his 87 at Adelaide was the third-highest score in the series.

In South Africa he was again third in the averages and made 99 at Newlands before being run out. A feature of his game has been willingness to knuckle down and battle it out when under pressure. This characteristic was seen in the West Indies two seasons ago and in his performances against Australia, the masters of exerting pressure. Yet just one match after his 99 at Newlands he was dropped.

There have been unkind comments on the lines that he has become the David Beckham of South African cricket, an appellation presumably based on the fact that he has a glamorous girlfriend, who is a leading model. Perhaps it is not so bad a label. For all his association with the glitzy world of fashion and pop music, there has never been any suggestion that Beckham has been anything less than dedicated to his football career.

Similarly, both Dave Nosworthy and Vincent Barnes, his coaches for Northerns and South Africa A this season, have nothing but praise for McKenzie's attitude. "Being left out of the side was obviously a knock to his confidence," said Nosworthy, "but he's a hard worker and he's back in form. He's good enough to be playing for SA."

Barnes said McKenzie, who captained the South Africa A side in a one-day series against Australia A, had been unlucky to start the series with two noughts. "It might have led to a lack of confidence in his own game, but his attitude as captain was great."

The side for the first Test against Sri Lanka, which starts at the Wanderers on Friday, is to be named tomorrow.