South Africa v England - Durban Test Preview

THIS week's torrential rain in Durban has not just been very bad news for the thousands of people flooded out of their homes, it has also meant the South African cricket team is likely to go into the third Test against England, starting at Kingsmead on Sunday, with a full hand of five pace bowlers, spinner Paul Adams missing out again.

While people in Durban and its surrounds were dealing with pressing matters of life and livelihood, cricket fans around the country have spent the week pondering the seemingly ageless question of whether South Africa will select a spinner or retain Mornantau Hayward and go into the third Test with an all-pace attack.

National coach Graham Ford has said that, in principle, it pains him to go into a Test without a spinner, while selection convenor Rushdi Magiet admitted this week that "our major attention, if we are going to make a change, will be on the spinner."

Unfortunately for Adams, conditions at Kingsmead now look likely to favour those bowlers whose deliveries are somewhat quicker than the little left-armers' array of chinamen and wrong uns.

"Kingsmead has always done a bit for the seamers, and the pitch is so wet at the moment that, even with some desperate drying measures, if we don't get some sunshine, it's going to be under-prepared," Ford, formerly a highly successful Natal coach, said.

Both Phil Russell, the current Natal coach and former Kingsmead groundsman, and Dolphins skipper Dale Benkenstein have said they fully support going inwith an all-pace attack.

"With all the recent bad weather, it will be better to go with Hayward," Benkenstein believes. "We'll then have our five top pacemen playing, which will be very intimidating. It will also be popular with the crowd because that will be quite a show!"

Russell, who emigrated from England in the early 1980s, also believes pace is the way to go. "Who would Mike Atherton and co. least want to face?

Hayward, without a doubt. The Kingsmead pitch, despite recent Natal games, is still hard and bouncy and is perfect for the speed bowlers. South Africa can field a top-class five-man pace attack, just like the West Indies did in their heyday when they gave the batsmen no rest."

Fitting 12 players into 11 slots seems to be South Africa's only problem and Ford says his side is in very good shape for a Test that is crucial to the outcome of the series. The home team go into the third Test 1-0 up, knowing that another victory will ensure they cannot lose the five-match rubber.

"Although the weather looks like stopping us from having much outdoor practice, our preparations for the Test are mostly mental. In general, I'm happy with the way we've played and we'll be taking things session-per-session, trying to use what we've learnt about the opposition so far. Unfortunately I can't tell you what that is, though," the coach said.

On the contrary, England are under pressure.

With both East London and Durban proving to be very wet ports of call since the drawn second Test in Port Elizabeth, the tourists have not been able to get going with their preparations for the Boxing Day start.

Injuries are also still hanging over their camp and it will be interesting to see whether batsman Michael Vaughan and left-arm quickie Alan Mullaly make the starting XI.

Vaughan, who injured his right index finger against the Eastern Cape XI in East London, was so obstinate at both the Wanderers and St George's Park that the English will be eager for him to play and add some starch to their batting line-up.

With opener Mark Butcher in terrible form, Darren Maddy missed a golden opportunity in East London to roar forth his claims, but Atherton and captain Nasser Hussain did everything that could have been asked of them in the second Test and give England at least some solidity in the top order.

Mullally has done no bowling since pulling out of the game against Natal on December 3 with a rib injury, but the team management have been digesting the results of his various fitness tests this week and are optimistic that he will be available come Sunday.

If the current status quo remains through to then, the pitch will be a tad under-prepared, with plenty of moisture, and South Africa will choose an all-pace attack.

England could go the same route and leave out spinner Phil Tufnell, who had a poor game against Natal at Kingsmead but bowled superbly in Port Elizabeth. Their batting line-up is likely to remain largely unchanged from the Natal game; Alec Stewart coming in for Maddy, while Andy Caddick will once again lead the bowling attack.

Squads

South Africa: Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Hansie Cronje (capt), Jonty Rhodes, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Allan Donald, Mornantau Hayward, Paul Adams.

England: Mike Atherton, Mark Butcher, Nasser Hussain (capt), Michael Vaughan, Alec Stewart, Chris Adams, Andrew Flintoff, Andy Caddick, Darren Gough, Chris Silverwood, Phil Tufnell, Alex Tudor, Alan Mullaly, Darren Maddy, Gavin Hamilton, Graeme Swann, Chris Read, Mark Ramprakash.