Cricket: Coach predicting Proteas backlash

By RICHARD BOOCK

Mark O'Donnell is forecasting a dramatic backlash from South Africa when the first test starts in Hamilton next Wednesday.

The New Zealand assistant coach spent much of the past decade working in the Republic and believes the tourists will respond strongly to their one-day setback.

Beaten 5-1 in the one-dayers, the Proteas will begin their test countdown today in Napier when they play Central Districts in a three-day match at McLean Park.

The selectors have opted to play all five newcomers to the tour - Gary Kirsten, Neil McKenzie, Paul Adams, Martin van Jaarsveld and David Terbrugge - in an effort to have them up to speed for next week.

Skipper Graeme Smith, former captain Shaun Pollock, beleaguered batsman Jacques Kallis, and fast bowler Makhaya Ntini will sit out the game.

O'Donnell, who spent the majority of his time coaching at Eastern Province and Gautang, said the South Africans looked uncharacteristically under-prepared for the one-dayers, and that it showed with some of their decision-making.

But he believed the world's second-ranked test side would present a far more organised threat at Hamilton.

"They'll be doing some overtime at the moment, you can be sure of that," he said yesterday. "I had the feeling that they were underprepared for the one-dayers, as if they hadn't given New Zealand much thought after their success against the West Indies."

O'Donnell predicted the historic defeat would only serve to make them more dangerous in the tests at Hamilton, Auckland and Wellington.

O'Donnell's job will include presenting an analysis on the South African team and players, a study that will plot weaknesses and strengths and a likely counter-strategy.

"I could see some pretty interesting body language coming out of their team at Napier, and I think the size of the defeat really rattled them."

Teams South Africa: Mark Boucher (capt), Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten, Martin van Jaarsveld, Neil McKenzie, Jacques Rudolph, Nicky Boje, Albie Morkel, David Terbrugge, Andre Nel, Paul Adams.

Central Districts (from): Glen Sulzberger (capt), Jamie How, Peter Ingram, Mathew Sinclair, Ross Taylor, Jarrod Englefield, Bevan Griggs, Andrew Schwass, Ewen Thompson, Regan West, Michael Mason, Lance Hamilton, Brendon Diamanti.