Zondeki likely to return to Cobras
The Cape Cobras will be heartened to hear that the make-up of their team to play the Highveld Lions in a SuperSport Series match in Potchefstroom from tomorrow is among South Africa coach Mickey Arthur's priorities.
"Mondé Zondeki's situation is the most pressing," Arthur on Tuesday said in Durban, where his team were preparing to take on the West Indies in the third Test starting at Kingsmead on Thursday.
"I realise that the Cobras need to know whether he will be available to play for them, and I'll let them know as soon as possible."
Zondeki is in the Proteas squad as cover for Dale Steyn, who sustained a hamstring injury in the series-levelling win at Newlands last Saturday.
"Dale will bowl in the nets today (yesterday), and we'll have greater clarity after that," Arthur said, which means the Cobras might know already whether they can pencil in Zondeki's name on their team sheet.
The national call-up was well deserved. Zondeki is the most successful bowler in the SuperSport Series so far this season, and his 44 wickets have been an important factor in the success, however limited, achieved by the Cobras.
Which is exactly the point: the Cape franchise will be anxious to retain his services, even though Zondeki himself will be itching to restart a Test career that stalled three years ago. Happily for the Cobras, indications are that they will have their spearhead at Sedgars Park.
"Shaun Pollock would probably be the next bowler in," Arthur said.
South Africa's requirements will affect the batting line-ups of both the Cobras and the Lions.
The Cape side must have been looking forward to having the axed Herschelle Gibbs back in their ranks, even if he would have been there for reasons of poor form.
The Lions, however, would have been less than pleased to have to sacrifice their captain, Neil McKenzie, who had been selected to replace Gibbs, to the national cause. But McKenzie's torn calf in the second Test means Gibbs has returned to the Proteas team.
The swings and roundabouts of domestic cricket and how it relates to the international level above it are, of course, nothing new to the franchise teams. Somehow, explaining that a team didn't perform up to its usual standard because a significant portion of its personnel was otherwise occupied doesn't cut any mustard.
The Cobras will also wonder why the series had to take a break immediately after they had won their first game in this competition for two seasons. Their victory over the Dolphins, by an innings and 44 runs with a day and two sessions to spare, broke a run of 17 unsuccessful SuperSport Series matches.
To have their momentum halted at that very moment was a cruel coincidence. But they can't have forgotten how to win in a few short weeks.
However, they will have to take on the Lions without South Africa vice-captain Ashwell Prince, who scored a steadying half-century against the Dolphins.
The Lions will no doubt still be smarting after having gone down to the Diamond Eagles in their previous outing. They needed just 167 runs to win, but sacrificed seven wickets to Dillon du Preez and CJ de Villiers and lost by 63 runs.
Wickets are unlikely to fall frequently on the placid Potch pitch, but the Cobras will want Zondeki in their line-up just the same. It looks like that wish might be granted.
- In other matches starting on Thursday, the Titans, probably including Morné Morkel, take on the Dolphins in Benoni and the Warriors are at home to the Eagles in Port Elizabeth.