from supercricket.co.za September 2001
Shaun Pollock made a personal breakthrough in media relations on South Africa's
tour of Zimbabwe in Harare on Friday.
Speaking to the press at nets as the team prepared for the second one-day
international in Harare on Saturday, the South African captain not only answered
questions - he asked them as well.
"Have you picked the side yet," Pollock asked himself. "Well, we
haven't had the selection meeting yet, but I don't forsee any changes,"
Pollock replied to himself.
"How do you think the pitch is going to play," Pollock asked. "Ja,
it looks a bit bare so it might be a bit on the slow side," Pollock
replied.
"Are there any areas you'd like to improve on," Pollock asked. "Ja,
we dropped a few chances in the last one-day international, and the fielding
wasn't quite up to scratch. The bowling can probably improve a little bit, but I
can't say much about the batting because you can't argue with 363 for
three."
All of which may mean Pollock was tired of being asked the same old questions by
the media. Perhaps they've stopped trying: the same tired answers seem to be
trotted out whatever the question.
But it wasn't all fun and games. Pollock did give a real journalist an
opportunity to ask a real question, to wit - would everyone in the squad be
given a game in the two remaining ODIs?
"Ideally we'd like to give everyone a chance, but the main aim is to win
the series," Pollock said. "If we can manage to pull that off tomorrow
(Saturday), then we might bring in a few changes for Sunday."
South Africa won the first one-day international by 153 runs in Bulawayo on
Sunday, scoring 363 for three before restricting Zimbabwe to 210 for five.