Cullinan to open for SA in Dhaka

The move to the top of the order seems to be influenced by the success enjoyed by Mark Waugh for Australia and Sachin Tendulkar for India, both of whom are similarly promoted for their countries in limited overs games.

``If duty calls, I'm there,'' was Cullinan's response. ``It's a big opportunity for me.''

Cullinan's natural inclination is to play strokes and build an innings rather than to play the role of a run chaser. He averages around 36 in ODIs, but that figure improves to nearly 50 for the occasions on which he has gone in at number 3.

The selectors have stressed that Cullinan is not being considered as Gary Kirsten's opening partner for Test matches. It is anticipated that Adam Bacher will fill that role once he recovers from his shoulder injury.

Cullinan's promotion is an acknowledgement of a batting problem in the South African team. Mike Rindel, Herschelle Gibbs and Andrew Hudson - all of whom played in the Commonwealth Games winning team - have been discarded. Convenor of Selectors Peter Pollock observed that ``they have not provided the answers to our batting problem, and they need to regain their form.''

The Selectors used the Commonwealth Games to blood a new look team, and some of the new faces have been retained for Wills Trophy. Dale Benkenstein is expected to make his official international debut at number 6 in SA's opening match against England on October 25th, and the two heroes of SA's semi-final win over Sri Lanka, Alan Dawson and Nicky Boje, retain their places in the squad.

Dawson performed well in Kuala Lumpur and deserves to retain his place, but his case was helped by the unavailability of three regular bowlers. Allan Donald is being rested ahead of the series against the West Indies, and Lance Klusener (ankle) and Roger Telemachus (shoulder) are still recuperating after surgery.

Paul Adams is also omitted from the squad, and Boje and Gauteng's Derek Crookes will back up first-choice spinner Pat Symcox. The selectors are not willing to play 2 spinners in a match if the balance of the batting lineup will be affected, and Boje and Crookes are both useful peformers with the bat.

Contributed by Bob Dubery