IT was the beginning of a new era for South African cricket this week as the first post-Kallis Test squad was named, and the general consensus in the Republic seems to be, “well done, now bring on the Aussies”. 

Bowling all-rounders Wayne Parnell and Ryan McLaren were both included in the Proteas squad, and while no one is expecting either of them to fully fill the giant shoes left by Jacques Kallis, at least one of them is just about guaranteed to feature in the first Test against Australia starting February 12.
There was very little criticism of the selections by the South African media, with most agreeing a bowling all-rounder was the most appropriate replacement for Kallis
However, at least one former international was left confused by the absence of young paceman Kyle Abbott, who is yet to play a Test since taking an incredible nine wickets on debut almost a year ago.
“The South African Test squad contains just the one surprise and that is the omission of Kyle Abbott,” wrote former Australia and South Africa batsman Kepler Wessels in his SuperSport blog.
“Abbott can consider himself unlucky to miss out, particularly bearing in mind the fact that he did so well in his only Test match at SuperSport Park in Centurion which is the scene of the first Test against Australia.”
Wessels didn’t dwell too long on Abbott’s absence, moving on to the most pressing matter now faced by selectors – which player out of McLaren and Parnell will be in the actual XI for the first Test?
“There is a strong suggestion that Wayne Parnell is going to be in the team for the first Test,” Wessels wrote
“There is apparently an argument for his selection based on the fact that he has the ability to bowl over a 140 kilometres an hour, he provides variation with his left-arm seam and bats a bit as well.
“Should Parnell be selected the powers that be will go away from the practice of selecting seven specialist batsmen.
“Should this happen, the selectors will hope that the top six batsmen are in good form. If they are, then the all-rounders from number seven onward won’t be exposed.
“If, however, the specialist batsmen don’t fire, then the pressure will be firmly on the bowling all-rounders to perform with the bat as well.”
Speaking of South Africa’s batsmen – they are much better than Australia’s, apparently.
That’s the opinion of legendary Proteas batsman Barry Richards, who believes it will be the batters, rather than the much-hyped bowling attacks that will decide next month’s series.
“Our batting unit is definitely superior, while our bowling unit is equal to theirs,” Richards told Fanie Heynes.
Well that settles that, then.
But one thing that could change this seemingly simple equation is injury, and the struggles in that department facing Graeme Smith and A.B. de Villiers in particular.
Both are expected to overcome minor problems in time for the start of the series, but if one of them is a bit slower than usual in their rehab, it will leave a serious hole in the Proteas batting line-up.
It’s something Heinz Schenk observed in his column for The Citizen.
“Generally there’s a bit of a blasé attitude when it comes to injuries to Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers.
“They always raise the spectre of not getting fit in time for a next series before thankfully making it.
“But there’s little doubt that we take that for granted. What if those two actually don’t make it in time for this series?
“Smith’s potential absence represents one of the selection issues I believe the selectors have been really slack on.
“You’d think that Dean Elgar, whose been part of the squad for some time now would be the logical choice to open with Alviro Petersen given the fact that at domestic level he indeed bats there for the Knights.
“That shouldn’t prevent us though from acknowledging that it’s a problematic position in terms of depth.”
But maybe South African fans should be less concerned about Smith’s injuries and more worried about his commitment to his country’s Test side.
That sounds like an odd question, given he’s served his nation with distinction for the best part of a decade, but the Proteas skipper caused a bit of a stir earlier this month when he took up Irish citizenship.
Smith explained the decision as one of convenience, given he’s married to Irish singer Morgan Deane and half his family is Irish, but it did lead to concerns the 32-year-old is thinking of winding down his international career.
Either that or he’s considering leading Ireland to glory at next year’s Cricket World Cup.