McKenzie shames selectors Souce: Sundays times - Colin Bryden - 17-08-03

Elegant innings on difficult pitch, helped by Boucher and Pollock, pulls SA back into the frame

at Trent Bridge, Nottingham

Neil McKenzie played an innings of supreme quality yesterday to lead a fightback which gave South Africa a chance of saving the third Test.

At one stage looking as though they were headed for an early defeat, South Africa clawed themselves to within 83 runs of England's total, then dismissed Marcus Trescothick, caught at short leg off Shaun Pollock, with the only ball bowled in England's second innings at the end of the third day.

South Africa still face an uphill task on a pitch of such dubious quality that Graeme Smith saw fit to criticise it after the second day. Yesterday's fightback will have given them heart and even the faintest glimmer of hope that they might yet win after playing catch-up since England dominated the first day.

McKenzie, who made 90, suggested that all the South African players emphasise their commitment by wearing caps for the final over, instead of the mixture of caps and hats that is the norm.

McKenzie put on a crucial 129 for the sixth wicket with Mark Boucher, who made a fighting 48. Shaun Pollock continued the struggle, playing sublime strokes before he was last man out for 62.

"We picked up a lot of momentum in the last session," said Pollock, whose own efforts have contributed greatly to a situation which could see South Africa fighting all the way to the end tomorrow, thereby making it difficult for him to catch a flight home to be with his wife, Tricia, for the birth of their first child.

When McKenzie and Boucher came together, South Africa were 132 for five in reply to England's first innings of 445, with Smith's words seeming set to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. The SA captain complained that it was "disappointing when a wicket plays a role in Test cricket," saying the pitch seemed dry and under-prepared.

The bounce was alarmingly inconsistent but because it was slow, it was possible for batsmen to dig themselves in. "It needed a lot of concentration," said McKenzie. "You have to put the negative thoughts out of your head and accept that you are going to get beaten by the odd ball that keeps low." McKenzie came in to face a hat-trick ball just one over into the day. He defied the chanting of an excited crowd and the best efforts of James Kirtley, offering a resolute forward defensive stroke as he launched an innings which should shame the national selectors.

Although he has shown several times that he has a fighting temperament to go with his skill, McKenzie has been a marginal choice for the selectors. A severe injustice was done to him at the start of last season when he was not included in the national side. When he did come into the team he did not have enough opportunities to nose past Boeta Dippenaar in the race for a middle-order place in the World Cup squad.

McKenzie won back a Test place which he should never have lost, having been one of the few players who stood up to the Australians in the back-to-back series of 2001/02, but lost out to Dippenaar again when his rival made 177 not out against Bangladesh.

With Jacques Rudolph also a certainty after his exploits in Bangladesh, McKenzie only played at Trent Bridge because of an injury to Gary Kirsten, despite making 258 runs for once out in two first-class matches on tour. After yesterday, there should be no further debate about his worth.

McKenzie's technique and timing were close to immaculate. On a pitch where the unexpected was a strong possibility, he defended soundly and hit some splendid strokes, particularly through the covers, before he spoiled 250 minutes of studious shot selection by edging a loose drive to first slip. He faced 168 balls and hit 11 fours.

Boucher showed the grim adhesiveness that he is able to call on in times of trouble, in stark contrast to the pyrotechnic attack that he launched at Lord's when South Africa were well on the way to the innings victory which gave them a 1-0 lead in the series.

The start of the day could scarcely have been worse for South Africa.

Kirtley, whose action has undergone scrutiny and re-modelling but still appears less than obviously legal, had Rudolph caught behind off the fifth ball and Dippenaar went back on his stumps and was lbw to the next ball.

It could have been three wickets in five balls for Kirtley when Kallis, not having added to his overnight 11, edged a low chance to Stewart's right.

Kallis never looked completely settled before he padded up to a ball from James Anderson which veered into his off-stump, probably off one of the cracks that have made batting a hazardous occupation.

Anderson, much criticised, took five for 102, having to bowl more than his usual share of overs because Steve Harmison was off the field after tea with a calf injury.