Ngam in line for SuperSport Park
Source: Supercricket - September 07, 2002

South Africa's troubled pace bowler Mfuneko Ngam may finally make his return to top flight cricket on Sunday for the national A side against Australia A at SuperSport Park in Centurion.

Down 2-0 in the seven-match series after South Africa lost by two wickets on Friday night at Benoni's Willowmoore Park, Centurion's pacey pitch would present the ideal occasion for Ngam's return.

Since making such an enormous impact with his sheer pace and penetration against New Zealand and Sri Lanka in the 2000/2001 season, Ngam has been plagued by injuries.

Having undergone intensive rehabilitation in Port Elizabeth though it is hoped that he will be eased back into the side ahead of the World Cup next year.

"It's up to the selectors, of course," said SA A captain Neil Mckenzie. "But if Ngamie is fit it would be great to have him in Centurion. You have to look at the bigger picture tough for Mfuneko. He's got a huge role to play in the future." The problem with South Africa A though does not lie in their pace battery but rather in their disastrous batting starts.

David Terbrugge and Steve Elworthy bowled magnificently with the new ball as South Africa came agonisingly close to defending a paltry 194 against a powerful Australian batting line-up.

Apart from the batting, which McKenzie acknowledges has to be improved as a matter of urgency, the other difficulty facing South Africa is the relatively short time they have been given to become a cohesive unit.

"It's not easy when we're all thrown together from different provinces and you've only got a few days together," explained McKenzie.

"But one of the first things I told the guys is that I would rather beat the Aussies than have five guys in the national side.

"The team has responded magnificently. That was a great fight back in Benoni." That McKenzie has to fight for a World Cup squad place encouraged a rumour that he and national skipper Shaun Pollock had had a fall out.

"It's just nonsense," responded McKenzie after selection chief Omar Henry officially denied the rumour. Henry added though that the source of the rumour would be investigated.

McKenzie however has not been all that impressive with the bat, failing to get off the mark in both games.

"It's disappointing. On Wednesday I thought the lbw decision was a little harsh but at Willowmoore I just played a loose shot."

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

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