Cricket: African tour has teething problems

The series might be four months away but the first shots have already been fired in the Black Caps tour to South Africa.

Stories out of South Africa have been suggesting New Zealand Cricket [NZC] has been stalling on fixing dates for the upcoming series and that the United Cricket Board of South Africa are poised to issue a take-it-or-leave-it ultimatum.

"We're not stalling," NZC chief executive Martin Snedden said. "We have slightly different views on how this could work. The window we have makes it quite difficult and, not surprisingly, a solution that suits New Zealand doesn't necessarily suit South Africa."

Snedden said that if the problems were not sorted in the next week, he would be seeing his South African counterpart, Gerald Majola, in London.

"It has been a difficult issue but it's not the case that there have been ultimatums. We have had quite robust discussions but we do that with a lot of tours."

The problem stems from the shifting of dates for the Super Series between Australia and the Rest of the World from October 5 to 19.

The Super Series was touted for September but the Australian Cricket Board changed the timing.

"The available window has been reduced and we've been discussing with South Africa how we can sensibly structure the tour to fit all matches in and not create an unmanageable burden for players."

South Africa have seven players - Mark Boucher, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Andre Nel and Graeme Smith - in the preliminary 30-man squads for the Super Series.

New Zealand has only Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum in the squads.

The proposed three-test, five one-day international tour will likely start around October 10, with warm-up matches happening while the Super Series is being played.

Snedden said it was unlikely an international would be played with Super Series players absent.

On South African cricket's official website, it is reported: "With the Super Series now in October and South Africa also owing India five ODIs, the pressure is on to try and fit these commitments in before South Africa leave for their Australian tour on December 6. The Kiwis have been resisting South Africa's suggested dates, so there are still assorted scheduling possibilities."

According to UCB chief executive Majola, that leaves two choices. New Zealand could play three tests in South Africa after the Super Series and then return for their five limited-overs matches in March. That would allow South Africa to meet their five-ODI obligation in India in November.

"There's always issues when you split a tour with travel costs," Snedden said. "It's a possibility but, to be honest, it's not something we've discussed with them."

The other option is New Zealand could squeeze their three tests and five ODIs into October and November and South Africa only go to India at the end of the season.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY