Ahead of South Africa's latest attempt to topple the still-dominant Australians, the Proteas face cricketing small fries Kenya and Bangladesh.

Talk about the worst possible preparation — a solid month of minnow-bashing.

I know, I know; one should never underestimate any international team, they all deserve our respect, and we are certainly not unbeatable — as Bangladesh themselves illustrated in the World Cup just last year.

But seriously, how will pelting a few random Kenyan batsmen with fizzing bouncers or having a Bangladeshi miss a straight one prime our attack for the likes of Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey?

Simply put, it won't. The best that Mickey Arthur (who, interestingly, has had his contract extended until the 2011 World Cup) can hope for is a resounding victory that will mean very little to the team. It will be akin to throwing a couple of lazy jabs at your 12-year-old niece the day before stepping in the ring with Wladimir Klitschko. Not quite ideal.

But fear not, there are one or two potentially positive aspects. If nothing else, it will give a few fringe players the chance, as superficial as it may seem, to get their hands on a plane ticket for the tour Down Under.

With captain Graeme Smith and star fast bowler Dale Steyn both expected to miss the pair of ODIs against Kenya, a couple of places open up. Tennis elbow, seemingly a condition more prevalent in batsmen than tennis players, is troubling Smith while Steyn is in the process of recovering from a mystery illness that saw him stuck in bed with severe headaches and nausea. Each apparently aims to return against Bangladesh.

Hashim Amla will likely get the chance to continue at the top of the order, after covering for Smith for the majority of the last ODI series against England. And Monde Zondeki, who was ripped apart by Australia when he last played for the Proteas nearly three years ago, should have the opportunity to add to his 11 caps.

Amla's role against Australia will be more important than most realise. The wristy Dolphins right-hander has demonstrated that he belongs in the Test team and has plenty to offer in the shorter form of the game as well. Zondeki forced his way into the squad with a strong showing for the Cape Cobras and will be eager to improve on his uninspiring ODI bowling average.

Also, Johan Botha will get a shot at proving his elevation to ODI vice-captain was an inspired choice when he leads the team against Kenya in Smith's absence. The move to give the off-spinner some serious added responsibility is an indication that the selectors will be sticking with the Warriors man as first-choice spinner for quite some time. (Intriguingly, Lahore-born Titans leg-spinner Imran Tahir will qualify to play for South Africa in April, but that's a topic for another day.)

While Botha is by no means prodigiously talented with bat or ball, he does seem to ooze the sort of grit and determination that can hold a team together in an environment laden with pressure (think 100 000 baying Aussie fans at the MCG).

So, with an eye on the wobbling Australians in India, the Proteas will have to make the best of their clashes against substandard opponents.

Whether you call it shaking off the rust, spending some invaluable time in the middle, or another appropriate cricketing cliché, you can be sure that a certain mid-December Test fixture at the WACA will be at the forefront of most South African cricketing minds.

  • Are Australia ripe for the picking? Is Ryan being harsh on Kenya and Bangladesh? Leave a comment below!


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