low graphics version | feedback | help
South Africa - A unique selection policy
Makhaya Ntini's promising Test career was put on hold |
Even when South Africa were well on their way to a 5-0 whitewash of the West Indies last winter, they could not satisfy everyone in the country.
The team, politicians argued, did not represent the cultural demographics of the nation and therefore could not consider itself to be truly national.
There is nothing new in attempted political intervention in sport.
Where South Africa is different, however, is that the reaction of the United Cricket Board (UCB) was to heed the criticism and all but tear up its old selection policy of picking the best available eleven and introduce radical and unique measures to achieve the desired balance.
The turning point came when, roundly condemned for fielding an all-white side for the first Test against West Indies at the Wanderers, the UCB were forced to guarantee that, other than in extreme circumstances, they would always include at least one "player of colour" - which is to say of black, Cape Coloured, or Asian decent - in the side.
Herschelle Gibbs: Thrown in at the deep end against West Indies |
In the end Herschelle Gibbs, a Cape Coloured, was drafted in to face Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose in the unaccustomed position of opener on a green top at Port Elizabeth.
There have also to be changes to the domestic structure of the game.
From this season, all provinces will be compelled to field at least one non-white player in first-class cricket.
Additionally, they will only be able to contract 16 cricketers each, with a pool of 20-25 promising and mostly black players distributed like mercenaries around the country.
There has been an expansion of the first-class competition to include 11 provinces in order to give the opportunity to a greater number of players to experience the four-day game.
Ali Bacher: South Africa's cricketing supremo |
That may be so, but there has already been criticism that the new system is watering down the talent, making it resemble England's county championship rather than Australia's Sheffield Shield.
Part of the problem for South Africa's selectors is that Adams has struggled to hold down his place on merit and Ntini, the first black cricketer to play for the country, was convicted of rape - a conviction that has since been overturned on appeal.
The UCB were so desperate for Ntini to play that, though he was on bail pending the outcome of the appeal against the conviction which carried a six-year jail term, he was included in a pre-season friendly between Border and Eastern Province earlier this year.
Following an outcry from the public, human rights and women's groups, he was withdrawn from the match and the UCB, which has gone out of its way to support Ntini, then said he was disqualified ''from all cricket matches under the control of the BCB until the judicial process has taken its course and the case has been finalised.''
Now cleared, Ntini is ready to revive his international career.
|
Search BBC News Online |
|
|
 Advanced search options | |
| |
 | |
 | |
| |
 | BBC RADIO NEWS |
| |
| |
 | BBC ONE TV NEWS |
| |
| |
| WORLD NEWS SUMMARY |
| |
| |
| |
| |
 | PROGRAMMES GUIDE |
|
|
See also: |
|
 |
|
 |
18 Oct 99 | England on Tour |
|
1995-96: England throw it away |
| |
|
|
18 Oct 99 | England on Tour |
|
Hansie Cronje: Captain on trial |
| |
|
|
18 Oct 99 | England on Tour |
|
South African Test venues |
| |
|
|
18 Oct 99 | England on Tour |
|
England need Swann to strutt |
| |
|
|
18 Oct 99 | England on Tour |
|
South Africa player profiles |
| |
|
|
18 Oct 99 | England on Tour |
|
England player profiles |
| |
|
|
18 Oct 99 | Cricket |
|
Cronje turns back on Glamorgan |
| |
|
|
Internet links: |
|
|
|
|
|
United Cricket Board of South Africa |
| |
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites |
|
Links to other England on Tour stories are at the foot of the page.
~RS~a~RS~international~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~04~RS~)