McKenzie in first Test
SOUCE- Daily Dispatch, 13 November 2000 (thanks Sabina)

POTCHEFSTROOM -- Neil McKenzie, dropped for the recent one-day series against New Zealand, was yesterday named as Jonty Rhodes' replacement in the South African XI for the first Test in Bloemfontein starting on Friday.

Boeta Dippenaar will open with Gary Kirsten and Makhaya Ntini as the back-up seamer.

McKenzie, who failed to impress as an opener during the three Tests against Sri Lanka in July and August when he top-scored with 25, is expected to produce a better performance lower down the order.

"We know he didn't do too well as an opener in Sri Lanka," selection panel convener Rushdi Magiet said at Newlands in Cape Town.

"But we think he's much more suited to batting at number five and we think he will make a success of it."

McKenzie's biggest opposition for the spot had come from Western Province's HD Ackerman.

"We looked at Neil and HD for that position.

''But Neil scored 123 against Gauteng at the weekend and that probably took things his way."

Moving McKenzie to number five reopened the number two slot, vacated when Herschelle Gibbs was banned from the game for six months until December 31 for agreeing to take money to underperform.

But Dippenaar has long been pushing for a Test place and played both Tests against Zimbabwe last year when Gibbs was injured.

Ntini secured his place after bagging six wickets for Border against Eastern Province on Friday.

His strongest competition had come from Roger Telemachus who performed well during the one-day series, but has yet to convince the selectors he is ready for the five-day game.

Mornantau Hayward and Mfuneko Ngam, also touted as possible back-up seamers, were not considered because of injuries.

The selectors also decided to stick with high-flying allrounder Nicky Boje rather than draft in left-arm wrist spinner Paul Adams, experiencing a slump in form.

"Paul will probably be considered in future if he bowls well," Magiet said.

"We want him to regain his confidence and we also had to be fair to Nicky who's taken two five-wicket hauls this year and is the man in possession."