Klusener to play as pure batsman

KOCHI, MARCH 8: South Africa, who have won tournaments in Kenya, Zimbabwe and at home, go into the Pepsi One-Day International series agai...

KOCHI, MARCH 8: South Africa, who have won tournaments in Kenya, Zimbabwe and at home, go into the Pepsi One-Day International series against India on Thursday battling with a problem — whom to drop in a team loaded with riches. The South African problem stood in sharp contrast to the problem of `loose spots’ in the Indian camp.

Skipper Hansie Cronje conceded he always felt “guilty” while leaving somebody out of the squad because of this problem. “We have so many options. So many good players in the side… A couple of changes were warranted now that (Darryl) Cullinan has retired and (Allan) Donald has gone back home. But then other than the World Cup and a couple of tournaments, Allan (Donald) has not played in many one-day games. He is not irreplaceable. We have good replacements in Elworthy, Hayward and Williams,” Cronje said.

The problem of plenty has also enabled the South Africans to go into the match with a half-fit Lance Klusener, who injured his ankle during the Bangalore Test. Cronje confirmed that Klusener would not bowl in the Kochi match and was in the squad as a pure batsman.

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New Indian captain Saurav Ganguly and coach Kapil Dev were obviously conscious of finding the right combination for the one-day match and more than that the team’s losing streak. “We have had a tough time in the last three months. We have to end this. Somewhere we have to win,” said Kapil.

Ganguly hinted at Ajit Agarkar being tried in the slog overs but quickly philosophised, “It is about finding the right player at the right time. We are a much better side than what we seem.”

The captain and the coach evaded questions about the final eleven, stressing that these decisions would be taken only on the morrow.

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