Four challenges for South Africa’s next convenor of selectors

The cat has crawled out of its bag and let out an almighty meow. Andrew Hudson has confirmed that he will not continue in his role as Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) chief selector. It had been rumoured for some time that Hudson will step down (or not be reappointed) after five years in the role, but it’s now official.

Hudson’s replacement will be announced in due course and fellow selectors Shafiek Abrahams, Hussein Manack and Linda Zondi are all in the mix with Ashwell Prince also rumoured to be under consideration, provided he accepts nomination. Whoever takes over from Hudson has a reasonably tough act to follow.

Hudson’s career has been mostly controversy free. Backtracking on Thami Tsolekile as Test keeper and the more recent World Cup semi-final fiasco are the two main sticking points for which Hudson will be remembered, but he had a decent record with picking players at the right time and crucially, from a transformation perspective too. With no official quota at national level, unlike at domestic level, Hudson has kept within the ‘transformation targets’ in all formats. During his tenure, an average of four ‘players of colour’ have represented South Africa in 40 Tests, four in 102 ODIs and an average of five in 50 T20s. When South Africa beat Pakistan in an ODI in Centurion in November 2013, seven players of colour were on the field.

The current panel will preside over picking squads for South Africa’s tour to Bangladesh, so the next panel will be on a steady footing before the big task of picking squads for an away tour to India and a home series against England.

Here are the four big challenges facing South Africa’s next convenor of selectors.

The Test opener

The new panel will have the luxury of getting a look at a possible successor picked by the current panel, but they have to keep their options open. South Africa have a tough season ahead with an away trip to India and hosting England later in the year. All signs point to Stiaan van Zyl as heir apparent to Alviro Petersen’s opening throne, but if this experiment flops, there won’t be much time to fiddle with combinations.

Those transformation "targets"

Haroon Lorgat has said that Cricket South Africa will make no apologies for aggressive transformation. That’s all good and well, but selectors have to toe a fine line between haphazardly selecting players who are nowhere near ready for international cricket and ensuring the ‘transformation guidelines’ are adhered to. A representative cricket team across all formats is something South Africa should strive towards, but it needs to be done transparently. If this ‘positive discrimination’ is going to happen more often, then the selectors need to be open about it.

The fact that since Makhaya Ntini’s retirement South Africa has not produced a regular black Test player will be of concern to those eagerly pursuing transformation targets. Realistically, there are only three potential players knocking on the door.

Temba Bavuma, who has made his debut for South Africa already, scored 555 runs at an average of 69.37, including four fifties and two hundreds in the domestic four-day competition. He is, however, more suited to the middle order and the only vacant spot in the Test team is the opening slot, unless the batting line-up is flipped around to accommodate him. Cobras batsman Omphile Ramela also had a good season with 724 runs at an average of 48.26, but he usually bats at number three and has a fairly average record overall. Lastly, young fast bowling sensation Kagiso Rabada enjoyed a fruitful first season as franchise cricketer with 39 wickets in eight first class games at an average of 21.12. Since bursting on to the scene during the Under-19 World Cup last year, Rabada has been fast tracked in order to prepare him for what should be a long and successful career in international cricket, but selectors will have to be careful to not throw the now 19-year old into the deep end before his body is ready for the rigours of Tests.

In limited overs cricket, there are only a few more options, but there will still be pressure on getting the ‘target numbers’ right.

The back up bowlers

Let’s not kid ourselves, Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel are heading towards the end of their careers. In fact, it’s likely that both might call it a day in limited overs cricket soon. The transition from these key men to the next generation will be one of the toughest things the next selection panel will have to do. They will also have to make sure players such as Hardus Viljoen aren’t lured away to other countries because they feel that they might not get a crack at playing international cricket for South Africa.

The spinner

Dane Piedt arrived on the scene with a bang last year, but since undergoing surgery and returning to competitive cricket, he struggled. Simon Harmer was equally impressive when he made his debut earlier this year and selectors will have to make a tough call on which one to take to India. Again, they will have some insight as to which way to go following South Africa’s tour to Bangladesh, but getting the balance right is far trickier against tougher opposition. DM

Photo: South Africa's Ashwell Prince (R) plays a shot as wicketkeeper Brad Haddin looks on during the second and final test cricket match of the series against Australia in Johannesburg November 17, 2011. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko