Donald to miss last two Zimbabwe one-dayers

Allan Donald, the premier South African bowler of his generation, will now miss the entire Zimbabwe tour, stricken by yet another dose of what seems an extraordinarily unpleasant dose of flu.

This, at any rate, was the explanation offered on Monday by South African selection convener Rushdie Magiet for Donald's omission from the squad for the remaining two one-day internationals in Harare on Saturday and Sunday.

Donald was originally selected for the tour, but withdrew with flu, missing the two Test matches and Sunday's first ODI. At the time it was said that he should have recovered sufficiently for the last two ODIs. Apparently this is not the case, Magiet saying that the fast bowler had caught "a second dose".

The problem with Magiet's version is that since Donald first withdrew, speculation and rumours about his non-appearance have surfaced. One theory has it that Donald, who previously said he did not wish to play Test cricket, was well short of match-fitness when he reported for South Africa's pre-tour training camp, this before being struck down with illness.

Another suggestion has been that senior members of the South African team, together with the management, are anxious to make the point that no one is entitle to a place, no matter how big the name.

Whatever the case, and it would be understandable if the selectors wished to preserve Donald for the Australian Test matches at the end of the year, it would help everyone concerned if Donald's position, together with those of Jonty Rhodes and Daryll Cullinan, were made perfectly clear. As this stands at the moment, almost every selection announcement is currently characterised by defensiveness, evasion and obfuscation.

Apart from Donald, the only other significant feature of the squad is the omission of Charl Langeveldt, selected for the tour in the first place as cover for Donald.

More interesting is the South African A side to play India on October 3 in Benoni and Kenya on October 9 in Laudium.

The side will be captained by HD Ackerman and will mark the return to international competition of Mfuneko Ngam. There is no place for Nic Pothas, still regarded by many as the most serious contender for Mark Boucher's position as national wicketkeeper, nor the exciting young Northerns prospect Kruger van Wyk. For these games the gloves will be taken by Thami Tsolikile of Western Province.

Langeveldt is in the side, though, as Boeta Dippenaar and Justin Ontong and two relative veterans from Northerns, Gerald Dros and Martin van Jaarsveld alongside their exciting young Titans team-mate, Jacques Rudolph.

The squads are:

South Africa: Shaun Pollock (capt), Mark Boucher, Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, Claude Henderson, Jacques Kallis, Justin Kemp, Gary Kirsten, Lance Klusener, Neil McKenzie, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Justin Ontong, Jonty Rhodes.

South Africa A: HD Ackerman (Capt), Boeta Dippenaar, Gerald Dros, Justin Kemp, Jon Kent, Charl Langeveldt, Mfuneko Ngam, Justin Ontong, Jacques Rudolph, Roger Telemachus, Thami Tsolikile, Martin van Jaarsveld.

Standby: Gulam Bodi (KwaZulu-Natal), Pieter Koortzen (Griquas)

The selectors will meet on October 1 to choose the SA A team to play a four-day match against India on November 10 and the South African squad for the Standard Bank One-Day International Triangular Series against India and Kenya.