Pressure is on the Indian selectors, says South Africa’s chief selector

Andrew Hudson, South Africa’s chief selector, says India will struggle to find proper replacements for players like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. Excerpts:

There are three formats and a lot of cricket these days. Has selectors’ job become a daily affair?
The job is becoming tricky by the day. You have to keep track of a lot of things. Finding the right men for three different formats is not so easy.

It has become a bit of a juggle to manage all three teams. Sometimes, we may have to take some tough calls about not letting certain players for tournaments like IPL and Champions League.

We can’t let them get injured before important series.

When do you decide that a player should be rested?
When my medical team suggests. I depend on the inputs of the coach and other members of the support staff. Then I talk to the captain and senior players.

A selectors’ job is not only about picking the team but also about man-management.

How will you deal with a player who wants to play in the IPL and you don’t want?
It is a difficult situation to be in but I think we will convince the players before an important and critical series like the current one, or series against England or Australia.

Will there be a time you may have to select two national teams — one for Tests and another for ODIs and T20 games?
May be. We may get to a stage when there would be two different support teams for one team. The coach for the national Test side may be different from the T20 and ODI squads.

What has been the thinking for selecting the team for the current series?
The thinking has been the same as it was in the past. We can’t surely field three or two spinners. South Africa’s strength has been pace bowling and we’re trying to keep that tradition. We intend to field pace-centric attack.

Spinner will have to do the containing job. The spinner’s role will be mainly to keep one end tight.

Is that strategy also because of Indian batsmen’s poor record against fast bowling?
History has told us that the Indians have got out behind the stumps — caught by the wicket-keeper or in the slips. That is because of genuine quick bowling. We have got good fast bowling back-up. A player like Wayne Parnell is unable to find a place. 

Lonwabo Tsotsobe is a very talented bowler. Ryan Mclaren is unable to play this match. We have a good back-up in pace.

So you have given instructions to the groundsmen to prepare bouncy wickets?
For the Tests, we will field a pace-centric attack. I will make it clear that we have not given any instruction to the groundsmen.

How difficult is to be a selector in South Africa?
Your board is known to interfere in the selections. Besides, your predecessor lost his job after the team failed to beat England at home.

The team has to win. That is important for everyone in South Africa. We back this team to win the series. We have no doubt in its abilities. Most players are there on merit.

May be the third seamer’s position needs review. The batting is solid. We have a player like JP Duminy sitting out.

Was there any resistance from your board?
I’ve not had any. At the moment we have a political policy. We need to promote the underprivileged. But this promotion comes only when I have to choose between the players of same ability.

When there is little to choose between two players, then I have to pick the coloured cricketers. But in the current national team, every player is by merit. I did not have to use any code. I don’t say the colour thing is non-existent but it is not a major issue.

Merit has been the benchmark.

There is a talk of a Pakistan bowler playing for your side?
Imran Tahir is a good leg spinner. We’ve not picked him in the World Cup probable because he has not got work permission yet. Once he gets, we will consider him for selection.

Any particular Indian player that you will be happy to have in South African side?
I don’t know. That is a difficult question. They are all quality players. Zaheer Khan’s absence was felt by your team in this Test.

The young left-arm pacer (Jaidev Unadkat) looks a promising prospect for the future. They are missing a strike bowler. But I would not like to see myself in the shoes of an Indian selector. There is a little bit of pressure on them.

Who’s coming after Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman? In two years time, you need proper replacements and replacing these guys is not easy. They can start work from now but they will never get such replacements.

I don’t think these guys will come to South Africa again.