ODI Betting: Pollock's retirement is South Africa's long-term problem

Profiles / Andrew Hughes / 02 September 2008 / Leave a Comment

Andrew Hughes tells us why Shaun Pollock would have been a lot more useful to South Africa this summer on the pitch than in the commentary box.

Belted around the park at Headingley and the Oval, skittled for eighty-three at Trent Bridge and turned over in the dark at headquarters, the men in the green pyjamas have turned in some anaemic efforts in the name of Natwest this month. It is true that they have been decapitated by Graeme Smith's untimely injury and without his raw dominance, a degree of paralysis might be expected. But the underlying symptoms are more serious; a battery of slipshod quicks have sprayed their side's hopes all over the cut strip whilst the batting, with Boucher at six, has lacked body. The diagnosis is straightforward. It is an acute case of Pollock deficiency.

Unfortunately, there is no easy cure. Having retired in the winter, the man himself is having far too much fun as a mischievous radio and television pundit, amassing new fans by the thousand with his clear-sighted, humble and irrepressibly positive contributions to broadcasting. And in between stints at the microphone, he has found time to turn his arm over for Durham in the Twenty20, a format that he will no doubt grace again in the IPL next spring. At thirty-five, there are seasons left in Shaun Pollock. That none of them will be in South African colours is a pity for us and a minor calamity for his country.

So how did it come about, this almost criminal squandering of a prodigious talent? A year ago, coach Micky Arthur made a decision. From thenceforth, the Proteas bowling unit was to consist of three fast bowlers and one Paul Harris. If you weren't quick and you weren't Paul Harris, you need not apply. Shaun Pollock, fitting neither of those descriptions, was surplus to requirements. And instead of a clean axe, it was to be death by a dozen cuts and omissions. His A+ contract was reduced to an A contract in October. In November, he was not picked for either of the Tests in Pakistan, despite his excellent sub continental record. Then he was denied the chance to get stuck into the New Zealanders and kept on the bench for two matches against West Indies. His retirement soon followed.

Arthur felt it was time for Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel to get a fair trot in the national first XI and, given their record this year, you'd have to say he was right. Kudos to the loquacious coach. But teams need balance. Three wayward quicks and an Ashley Giles impersonator with highlights won't scare Ricky Ponting. And if the future was youth, then what are Ntini and Nel doing on tour? Nel, for all that his gurning and clowning have kept the cheap seats entertained, has supplied neither speed nor subtlety.

This may sound like sour grapes from an Englishman. After all, hasn't this unit just triumphed here for the first time since readmission? Indeed they have, but given England's disarray, it would have been a surprise had they not done so. Every time they knuckled down, England conveniently tripped up. Wouldn't a South Africa that included Pollock have done just as well? And wouldn't he have been able to offer advice, guidance and example for Steyn and Morkel to follow, wisdom that you cannot imagine Gunter the mountain boy imparting?

More seriously for coach Arthur, without Pollock's metronomical contribution with the ball and his long-limbed lower order steering jobs with the bat, the one-day side look devoid of substance, a team adrift. And there is no immediate replacement. Philander is a thumper who bowls a bit whilst Albie Morkel is getting past the age where any further improvement might be expected. Another year bowling alongside Pollock could have made Steyn and Morkel the finished one day bowlers. Instead, they can expect to be on the receiving end of more such pastings for the foreseeable future.

Such has been England's aggressive intent, attacking from the off with flourish, élan and power that their opponents have barely been able to fend off the blows. This is a Proteas team more interested in plane tickets than consolation prizes and England are deservedly favourites at [1.63] to claim the whitewash on Wednesday with the bedraggled tourists on [2.52]