November 08 Friday 2002
No pattern to selection: Wessels

JOHANNESBURG: The national cricket selectors have no pattern or standards in selecting their teams and they only manage to confuse players, says former South African cricket captain and Eastern Province coach Kepler Wessels. 

That is in response to national squad selected for first cricket Test against Sri Lanka set to start Friday at the Wanderers. Former South African swing bowler Fanie de Villiers believes selectors are too set on speed when selecting bowlers, ignoring art of bowling finesse. 

"That's why I fail to understand why they called on Nantie Hayward. I'll eat my hat if he is included in the Wanderers Test squad. He has only managed to take nine wickets in SuperSport series at rate of 40 runs per wicket. 

"Hell, I could name thirty bowlers who have produced a better track record in SuperSport averages," De Villiers said. He gets hot under the collar when selectors bring up issue of bowlers with true speed as against swing bowlers. "Who are the guys to take most wickets under South African conditions? Naturally swing bowlers like Andrew Hall, Steve Elworthy and David Terbrugge. I have no doubts that Terbrugge should be included in the squad in favour of Hayward. 

"Then there are those (selectors) who contend you can only include one swing bowler in the squad and that choice is between Shaun Pollock and Terbrugge. It's the biggest load of bull I've ever heard. Look, if I could have six Pollocks in my team, I'd choose all of them. How many countries would give anything for a Pollock in their ranks," De Villiers added. "This nonsense of strike bowlers who are supposed to bowl the fear of whatever into guys with their so-called speed is a load of rubbish. Look at Glenn McGrath and Wasim Akram, they are not the world's fastest bowlers, but see how many wickets they manage to take with new ball. 

"Please understand me, the new bunch of selectors are streets ahead of previous lot, but the problem is they are not being honest with us and are trying to throw dust in our eyes by their selections. I believe Martin van Jaarsveld will get a second chance. We have definitely not seen last of him." Wessels said he was surprised at the fact that Van Jaarsveld and Terbrugge had been dropped. 

"And then out of the blue they decide to recall Steve Elworthy from wilderness. "By their random selection they are only confusing players who don't know where they stand. The selectors are fortunate in that we are likely to finish off Sri Lankans without too much trouble, getting selectors off the hook with their team choice. 

"I think selectors should treat players with more respect," Wessels said. He believes a player who has improved by leaps and bounds is Hall. 

"I have played against him and he had nothing to write home about. But lately he has been bowling brilliantly and 
definitely deserves a chance." 

Northern Titans coach Dave Nosworthy said he was disappointed and bitter at Van Jaarsveld's dropping. "He was never given a fair chance to prove himself," Nosworthy said.