This article published in The Times 18 February 2008

WHAT WOULD A BLACK TEST TEAM LOOK LIKE?

by FRANK HEYDENRYCH
Two notions have clung tenaciously to life in South African cricket,
and both deserve to be euthanased. The one is that black people don't
play cricket; the second is that cricket is not being transformed.
For the purposes of this article, the term "black" will be chosen to
embrace all players who are not white. This is important, as it is
absurd to think of a freckled Herschelle Gibbs as black - just as
Makhaya Ntini is demonstrably black.
I thought I would shoot these two theories full of holes by selecting
a South African Test and ODI team without a single white player.
What this will show is that the momentum towards a black-dominated
cricket playing structure is under way. Much needs to be done still,
but more on that in a moment. For now, here is an "all-black" Test
team:

Herschelle Gibbs, Alviro Petersen, Henry Davids, Hashim Amla, Ashwell
Prince (captain), JP Duminy, Vernon Philander, Thami Tsolekile,
Alfonso Thomas, Makhaya Ntini, Lonwabo Tsotsobe

This team would not disgrace South Africa at all. It would be highly
competitive, and it would have a variety to it currently lacking in
the South African Test team, in that it would have a left-arm pace
bowler in Tsotsobe; vigorous all-rounders in Philander and Thomas; the
leading run-scorer in the country in Davids; a man averaging 50 at
first-class level in Duminy; and an experienced core in Gibbs, Amla
and Prince.

What's as exciting is the South African A team, again chosen only from
"black" players. Look at this lineup and it's perfectly evident that
transformation has taken root:

Goolam Bodi, Loots Bosman, Ahmed Amla (captain), Justin Ontong, Robin
Peterson, Rory Kleinveldt, Athenkosi Dyili (wicketkeeper), Tandi
Tshabalala, Monde Zondeki, Charl Langeveldt, Sinethemba Mjekula

There is no room in either squad for such exciting players as Jonathan
Vandiar, Saidi Mlongo, Ethy Mbhalati, Farhaan Behardien, Imraan Khan,
Yusuf Abdullah, Alan Kruger and many other authentically quality black
players.
Now, to the other issue to which I alluded: schoolboy cricket is awash
with quality black players. Nobody argues this point. But somewhere
between the ages of 17 and 20 these young players disappear. It's
clear what happens: as good cricketers, they are looked after by the
system: kit, accommodation, food, clothing, emotional support. This
typically ends at school leaving age, and so young cricketers are
forced to confront the reality of survival in currently disadvantaged
families.
So they move on, leaving behind what had looked like a promising
cricket career. Deal with this issue, and we'll deal with the mandates
of transformation.
And we can stop making transformation Mickey Arthur's job.