Proteas boosted as Parnell returns

Left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell looks set for a return to the South African line-up at Newlands on Friday as the Proteas attempt to bounce back from a heavy seven-wicket defeat against England at the weekend.

The 20-year-old paceman, who has been out for a few weeks with an ankle injury, trained with the team in Cape Town ojn tuesaday yesterday, and bowling coach Vincent Barnes said afterwards that he had come through the team run and fielding session okay.

Parnell also bowled six overs in a club match in Port Elizabeth at the weekend and had had no apparent after-effects, Barnes said.

Parnell, the find of 2008's one-day side, would return to the starting line-up in the normal order of things since it was only injury that saw him drop out.

But his availability comes at the right time for South Africa, as they are 1-0 down in the series with three games to play.

Yesterday Proteas coach Mickey Arthur identified the execution of skills and game-plans by the bowlers on flattish wickets as one of the key areas in the team which needed to be honed.

Although on Sunday at Centurion it was widely agreed that South Africa's batsmen were 30 runs or so short of a par-score for Centurion, it was not a pretty sight to see the home side lose by seven wickets with four overs still to be bowled.

The Proteas attack has suffered through not having injured all-rounder Jacques Kallis' bowling to bolster it and, apart from the five bowlers they pick there is only the part-time spin of JP Duminy as an extra card to play at the moment.

What Parnell would add is striking ability with the new ball in partnership with Dale Steyn and this is where the Proteas need to improve.

The question would be who Parnell would replace in the starting XI should he play. The most likely candidates for omission would be one of the all-rounders, rookie Ryan McLaren or Albie Morkel, with the latter the more likely victim.

On Tuesday Arthur pointedly praised the three "newer" players in the ODI set-up, being McLaren, opening bat Hashim Amla and Alviro Petersen.

Judging by that comment, McLaren does not seem to be about to be abandoned as a bowler.

Arthur also had occasion to add that Morkel's career was "in his own hands", suggesting that if his performances were of a satisfactory level, there would not be questions about him in press conferences.

Of the other seamers, Dale Steyn as the quickest bowler in the line-up, is not in danger. In fact Barnes says the speedster gets better the more he bowls, so much is expected from him in the coming weeks.

Wily Charl Langeveldt has just come back into the set-up and done well, bowling in the high 130s on Sunday as well as showing his range of skills.

There might also be a question-mark behind the name of left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe, who went for 55 runs in nine overs at Centurion. It is difficult to see the Proteas playing both their spinners - the other slow bowler in the squad is offie Johan Botha.

Botha played a significant role in slowing scoring in 2008's two series against Australia, and although he has been banned from bowling his doosra, it is difficult to see why his contribution should have faded so much that Van der Merwe should have supplanted him in the team.

The dogged Van der Merwe certainly offers plenty as an all-rounder, not least as a sharp fielder, but Botha does offer enough with the bat, too.

Fast bowler Morne Morkel was also called up to the squad on Tuesday, with Arthur emphasising that the step was not a panic measure.

With Parnell to be put through rigorous sessions this week and his game-readiness still to be confirmed, Morkel was back-up for him, and, perhaps more importantly, he was joining the squad as the build-up toward December's Test series began.

Morne Morkel, who has had good form with the Titans franchise, taking 18 wickets at 21.55 in five matches, could be in line to replace his brother in the Test side.

On the batting side for Friday's game at Newlands there does not seem to be much call for change. Herschelle Gibbs was called up as back-up when Kallis' rib injury ruled him out of the series, but Arthur said on Tuesday his inclusion was as back-up for positions four and five in the order.

If Gibbs were to play he would have to replace JP Duminy or Alviro Petersen.