Polly's captaincy in the spotlight
By Stuart Hess - April 20 2002

Had anyone questioned Shaun Pollock's credentials as a captain a year ago, they would
probably have been told to join the circus.

Pollock had just led his side to a Test series win in the West Indies - an accomplishment equal
to a series wiin in India - and was the toast of the town for his enlightened and courageous
declaration in the fourth Test at Antigua. He followed that up with a comprehensive win in the
one-day series and was being hailed as one of modern cricket's great players.

The tag of world class all-rounder - including his role as the main strike bowler, a fine fielder in
the slip and gully region and captain - was a mighty burden to bear, but Polloock showed he
had the talent, and more importantly, the temperament to do it all.
Candidates may include Jonty Rhodes, Neil McKenzie, Mark Boucher or even Dale Benkenstein

That, of course, was until the first Test at the Adelaide Oval last December. Surprisingly it
wasn't a member of the media who initially found fault with Pollock's leadership. The criticism
originally stemmed from a member of the family - Pollock's uncle Graeme.

The famous left-hander, while commentating on Australian radio, explained how he and Shaun
had debated - some say argued about - South Africa's tactics.

Matters deteriorated from there, as South Africa were whitewashed in the series and all
changes to the game plan proved fruitless.

Before the Aussies series, it was felt that Pollock's more relaxed attitude and captaincy style
would be beneficial to the South Africans for what many felt would be a very intense series.

But as the past four months have shown, his abilities as a captain did not stand up to their
greatest examination, and slowly more people pointed to the fact that other areas of his game
were starting to suffer.

However, the selectors stuck with him, reinstating him as captain once he had recovered from
injury and was fit to play in the one-day series which followed the Test series here.

However against a new Australian captain, and an Aussie team which had lost the experience
and expertise of the Waugh brothers, Pollock again failed to deliver.

The calls for a new captain for the World Cup have grown ever louder since.

However, besides the obvious question about who it should be, there's also the decision about
whether it would be fair for a new man to assume the role so soon before the World Cup, with
series against Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Pakistan as his only preparation.

If the new selectors - who will be appointed in August - decide Pollock is not the man for the
job, candidates they may look at include Jonty Rhodes, Neil McKenzie, Mark Boucher or even
Dale Benkenstein.

Rhodes brings great experience as South Africa's most capped player at one-day international
level. But whether the selectors would be comfortable in giving someone the position as
captain only to see him quit the game afterwards as Rhodes has said he will do seems unlikely.

Boucher was a reluctant captain during the home series against the Australians and despite
commendable performances in the second and third Tests of that series, it would be unfair to
add the weight of captaincy to his wicketkeeping duties.

Benkenstein, is unable to break into the side and despite solid performances for KwaZulu-Natal
and SA A over the last few seasons a promotion to the senior national team seems highly
unlikely and being handed the captaincy even more so.

Which leaves McKenzie or the nutter as the Aussies referred to him, as the remaining
candidate. McKenzie was made vice-captain for the last two Tests against the Aussies, but
those who support him believe he has the requisite leadership skills to captain South Africa.

In addition, McKenzie, just 26, has time on his side and would, unlike Rhodes, be an investment
in the future of the national side.

He has captained at school and at provincial level, something Pollock hadn't done when he
took over the job from Hansie Cronje.

However, major concerns have been expressed about whether McKenzie as one of the younger
members of the team would gain the respect of the senior players in the side. If that is indeed
the case, it really shows a lack of professionalism by those players.

McKenzie is a fine cricketer with superb temperament and outstanding qualities as a person. He
would certainly be a popular captain with the public, who have learned to enjoy his quirks and
mannerisms.

It would certainly be a bold choice. And who knows possibly a choice which leads to World Cup
glory.

Expert Opinion:

Hylton Ackerman
(Under-19 World Cup coach)

Maybe Jonty Rhodes or Shaun Pollock. The captain should know more about cricket, than
merely the game. He should be able to understand people and the entire structure of South
African cricket. Pollock's body language in the last few weeks has been incorrect. The player
who leads the side at the World Cup must have the respect of the players and the public.


Robin Petersen
(Eastern Province all-rounder)

Dale Benkenstein. He is a very determined character, who leads from the front. He has been an
outstanding leader for the Dolphins and for the SA A side.


Gordon Parsons
(North West coach)

Neil McKenzie. Firstly he is good enough to be in the team on merit. He does not have many
ties to players from the major provinces like Pollock who may feel closer to the Natal boys or
Jacques Kallis, who may have ties with the WP guys. He seems level-headed and calm under
pressure.


Omar Henry
(Boland coach)

Jonty Rhodes. He has the credentials and has got a wonderful one day record. On the park he
inspires everyone and lifts the team. He has also played in all the World Cups since 1992 and
has expressed an intention to retire and giving him the captaincy would be a nice incentive.


Peter Kirsten
(Western Province Academy coach)

Jonty Rhodes or Neil McKenzie. You need some one who brings freshness and explosiveness to
the South African team. Neil's got a good cricket brain and is very good with people and
players. Jonty, is of course Jonty and has shown on many occasions just how much his
presence lifts the team.

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