Makhaya Ntini

Makhaya Ntini’s 100th Test cap

Makhaya Ntini should make his 100th Test appearance this week.

What strikes us about this is that an African nation’s first black cricketer is still playing.

Impotent miserliness or profligate wicket-taking, which wins a one-day match?

Well obviously wicket-taking miserliness is what you’re aiming for. But there was a fire-and-ice, chalk-and-cheese, black-guy-and-ginger-guy contrast between South Africa’s opening bowlers in the first one-day international against Pakistan.

Shaun Pollock didn’t get a wicket but only went for three an over from his full allocation. Makhaya Ntini went at almost eight an over, 69 from nine, but took the first four wickets to fall.

Probably the pressure from Pollock’s end led to rash shots when Ntini was bowling and Ntini’s wickets led to more subdued batsmen when Pollock was bowling.

We’d go for Makhaya though, on the grounds that he’s ace and because Shaun’s duller than Jacques Kallis’s wits. Makhaya can be quick whereas Shaun long ago decided not to be. Makhaya’s fun and Shaun’s not.

You get the picture. We prefer Makhaya Ntini.