by Neil Manthorp June 1998 (thanks Cindy)
Remember when Shaun Pollock used to hit Mike Atherton on the helmet for a
hobby? Polly had just made his début and every time he dug one in at the
England captain, the ball went for his head like a crash test dummy into a
wind screen.
When Shaun Pollock débuted for South Africa he could bowl quick. Not all the
time, mind you, but that was his strength - surprise. He 'pinned' people because
they weren't expecting his bouncer to be that much swifter.
Then came the injuries. Pollock began to look, and bowl, like a medium pacer. In
a very short space of time he had created a significant enough 'aura' to keep
him in the side, but he was under-performing. Not doing himself justice.
I've spent a lot of time this winter trying to get over the injuries, more
specifically, trying to make sure they don't re-occur. I had the hamstring
injury [with which he limped out of the Port Elizabeth Test against Australia
and, according to some teammates, inadvertently took South Africa's chances of
victory with him] and also the ankle.
"I've worked a lot with Andrew Shedlock [Natal physio] strengthening
both hammies and an awful lot of ankle work too. I'm sick of the sight of
'clingy bands' and 'wobbly boards' at this stage, but they've done their job.
The bad ankle [operated on last year] feels as strong as ever and various tests
at the Sports Science Institute have shown drastic improvements in the
hamstrings."
It is probably more a reflection of the characters off Brett Schultz and Shaun
Pollock that they respond differently to the question: 'Are you confident you
can bowl flat out?' Schultz, too, has worked fiercely in the gym for the last
three months and he says: "Yes, it is the only way I can play."
Pollock says, cautiously: "I'm feeling as strong as I ever did, and I'm
getting rid of the ball as well as I ever have done, but I'm trying not to get
overconfident."
As if Pollock's role as first lieutenant to Big Mac is not under enough threat
from Klusener and Kallis, his role as Donald's new ball partner is now very
seriously under threat from Schultz. "A lot depends on how 'Bear'
goes," - the emphasis is on 'goes', a euphemism from one injury-nervous
bowler to another - "and what the team structure is. But he's been looking
good ... he's got the old charge-and-snarl routine going very nicely and he's
still getting grumpy when people hit him to the fence, so things bode well!
"If he gets picked for the Test side then, yeah, I suppose I could become
first change. Whatever is best.." It may be imagined, but there appears to
be a distinct edge to the voice. He wouldn't be happy with a demotion...would
he? "Well, you know, maybe if there are a couple of left-handers up front I
could take the new cherry. I have a pretty good strike rate against them. Maybe
if there's a bit of wind I could run into it with AD at the other end and
Schultzy staying fresh to take over from Allan." Cautious optimism over
fitness is put into perspective by grim determination to keep the new ball!
With the prospect of bowling first-change, however, may come the opportunity to
advance up the batting order. Maybe even as high as six? "With Mac batting
at three everyone tends to get pushed down the order a bit and we can even play
an extra batter." What Natal has taught Pollock over the years has not been
lost now- humility. "Whatever the team needs in a certain situation I'm
happy to fit in with," says a man variously shuffled between three and 11
in the Banana Boys' line-up.
"You can expect to lose a couple less wickets in the early part of the
innings on the subcontinent than at home, so there is much of a muchness between
six and seven. Of course I've been working hard on my batting ... wherever I'm
sent in I want to bat." Pollock admits to another rare lesson learned at
Natal. If you walk in at number three expect to bat for at least a couple hours
and make 50. If you walk in at number 11 ... expect the same.
Pollock, with Jacques Kallis, Paul Adams and Lance Klusener, introduced an
'exotic' blend of humour into the dressing room when they came together. Part
sharp, part puerile, part practical and a very big part mad. "What I'm
really looking forward to in Pakistan is seeing all the other boys learning to
live like Polly has lived all his life," chuckles the only complete
non-drinker in the squad. "I have a feeling there'll be a few withdrawal
symptoms after a couple of weeks, particularly if Mr Symcox can't have his
Castle Lager on time. There's going to be a few guys learning what it's like to
speak normal English at midnight after a good win!"
If mischief and humour were the criteria, Pollock would play every game for
South Africa and Fanie de Villiers would never have been dropped ... even if he
was injured. But popularists don't win Tests.
"I'd love to play every game. It's going to be a heck of a long 12 months,
and hard work. I do tend to be one of those players that plays in both the Tests
and one-dayers, at the moment. Of course it depends on performance and 'how you
go' [another nervous reference to 'injury'!] ... but for sure I'd love to play
in every game."
True to his energetic nature, Pollock finds the notion of 'rest' a difficult one
to deal with. "I just don't know whether it's possible during the season.
In the past, when I've been rested from four-day games, I've hated it. I've just
wanted to be out there, playing. I would probably have regretted it after 10
overs ... no, seriously, if there's a game on I don't want to be sitting on the
sidelines."
So this bouncer then, the one he used to bowl at Atherton, is it still around?
Is it back?
"Yes, it is. I've got a bit of gas back and my ankle is strong enough for
me to hit the crease as hard as I need to. I've got my pace back ... hopefully
I'll be 'sconning' a few boys in the next couple of months to prove it. Maybe
the Pakistani wickets won't allow too much bounce, but I'll be disappointed if
I'm not pinning a few in Australia. It's a
good sound, the clunk of ball on head."
Shaun Pollock may not drink alcohol but even Merv Hughes would be proud of that
kind of attitude.