ODI preview / Andrew Hughes / 30 October 2008 /

The South African selectors are not a sentimental bunch and, as a new generation of dashing, young cricketers emerges, some of the Proteas' most decorated stars could face the axe if things don't improve soon, says Andrew Hughes.

There is one familiar name missing from the South African squads for the upcoming one day games with Kenya and Bangladesh.

Makaya Ntini, the indefatigable former cattle herder from the Eastern Cape has paid the price for a lacklustre Natwest Series this summer. A yard slower than the last time he toured England, there was no increase in accuracy to compensate for his dwindling fire and an economy rate of five an over was not what coach Mickey Arthur had been looking for from his most experienced paceman.

Bearing in mind the way that Shaun Pollock was quietly but firmly eased out of the international set-up last year, you have to wonder how much longer Ntini has in the Test side, particularly with the younger, faster Monde Zondecki breathing down his neck.

Still, Ntini can consider himself unlucky to be the sole scapegoat. Speculation was rife that Herschelle Gibbs, Mark Boucher or even the mighty Jacques Kallis could be in line for the chop after their tepid contributions to a limp surrender. In the event, they all escaped the one day axe, but it is worth asking the question: for how long?

The most vulnerable of the veteran quartet is Herschelle Gibbs. Already banished from the Test team after a chronic loss of form and confidence, at the age of thirty-four, he can't afford too many more bad days at the office. Charged with getting the innings off to a flying start, he failed three out of four times in England, though did manage a half-century at Lords. If he doesn't fill his boots against Kenya and Bangladesh, his international career could well be over.

Mark Boucher's position appears to be more secure. When he broke Ian Healy's record of Test dismissals last year, Healy reckoned he could add another two hundred to his tally. But it is unlikely he will be allowed to continue for that long. A B de Villiers has been groomed as Boucher's successor and as a genuine number six, will allow South Africa to pick an extra bowler. He has already taken the gloves in a couple of Twenty20 games this year and is again the designated keeper for the Twenty20 with Bangladesh next month. With an unassailable world record in his locker and nothing left to prove, Boucher may well decide to call it a day if he were eased out of the one day side.

Six months ago, no-one would have even suggested that Jacques Kallis was on the way out. Arguably the best batsman in the world, he also had a decent claim to be the best all-rounder in the game. But a dreadful record this summer, crowned by a poor show in the Natwest Series has led to some unwelcome rumours about his longevity. If he were to be dropped, it would almost certainly be from the shorter formats. The suggestion still lingers that he is too pedestrian for limited overs cricket and he was of course, famously left out of the squad for the Twenty20 World Cup last year. His most likely replacement is the dashing young left hander Jean Paul Duminy.

But whilst Gibbs' international place is hanging by a thread, the harsh realities of the future tours programme will mitigate against any drastic changes in the Test squad for the time being. Home and away series against Australia is no time to blood youngsters and the accumulated experience of Kallis, Boucher and Ntini will be invaluable in what are sure to be hard-fought contests. But come next autumn, don't be surprised if one or two more South African veterans follow Shaun Pollock into retirement.

Of course, consecutive series against the minnows of world cricket is just what the doctor ordered for veterans looking to get back into decent nick. According to the ICC ratings, Kenya rank alongside Zimbabwe and some way below Ireland in the international pecking order. You'd need an ingenious mind or some serious drugs to envisage a Kenyan win in the first one day international on Friday. But if you can, then there is [13.5] on offer about Steve Tikolo's men and good luck to you. South Africa, meanwhile, are available at [1.05].

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