Eksteen out of the mothballs

It has been the best of times and the worst of times for two of South Africa's more visible cricketers.

For Gauteng skipper Clive Eksteen, Monday's Test recall after four years in the wilderness could not have been sweeter. For KwaZulu-Natal's captain, Dale Benkenstein, the new millennium must feel like a long, dark tunnel.

After spending most of last year in New Zealand and England perfecting his skills as South Africa's 12th man, Benkenstein was surprisingly overlooked last month for the fifth Test against England in favour of Border captain Pieter Strydom.

Then, last week, after just two matches for his country in the triangular one-day series, he was summarily dumped from the squad.

And Monday, he was left out of the 14-man squad to tour India for two Test matches later this month.

As if all that was not enough, Benkenstein went to hospital to have a benign growth removed from his shoulder last week. After returning to his Mount Edgecombe home, he suddenly began to bleed internally.

"I was alone and feeling pretty faint, but I managed to contact a friend who was playing golf at the course, and he rushed me to hospital again," said Benkenstein.

The 25-year-old then had to undergo an emergency operation. This time round all appears to be well and Benkenstein is slowly on the mend.

"I should be okay in a week or so," he said on Monday.

"Obviously I've felt very disappointed after the setbacks over the last couple of weeks, but all I'm thinking about now is getting back to playing for KwaZulu-Natal in the one-day competition which I think we've got a fair chance of winning."

However, all may not be lost for Benkenstein, who many see as the heir apparent to Hansie Cronje as South Africa's next captain. On Saturday, after the final of the triangular series, the national selectors will announce a 15-man squad for the one-dayers in India.

Given that four of the squad - Allan Donald, Daryll Cullinan, Eksteen and Boeta Dippenaar - will return after the Tests, five new faces will be picked on Saturday. They will comprise two batsmen, two pace bowlers and a spinner-batsman.

By contrast, Gauteng skipper Eksteen received the best possible reward when, within a week of leading his province to victory in the final of the SuperSport Series, he was included in the squad for India.

The 33-year-old left-arm spinner has played six Tests for his country, dating back to his debut against Sri Lanka in 1993/4 when, along with Jonty Rhodes, his stubborn batting saved the match.

However, it appeared that the national selectors would never forgive him for his last match, against England in the second Test at the Wanderers in 1995/6, when he failed to take a wicket on the last day as Mike Atherton struck his famous unbeaten 185 to save the match.

Speaking yesterday, national convenor Rushdi Magiet paid tribute to Eksteen, saying that his consistent first-class form had been rewarded.

"It is a short-term selection, with Clive serving as backup for Paul Adams whose injured finger will be assessed at the end of the week," he said.

"However, even if Paul is not quite fit, he will go to India anyway because, at worst, we are only looking at a further week or two before the finger recovers."

Magiet said the selectors were reasonably satisfied with South Africa's bowling and fielding, but were trying to address their batting problems by slowly introducing new talent.

"Although we've got to the final, we haven't been playing well," he said. "There's been a fair amount of anxiety about our batting."