Klusener leads invitees

JOHANNESBURG: Discarded veteran all-rounder Lance Klusener was named captain yesterday of an invitational team to take on the touring West Indies at the Nicky Oppenheimer Ground in Randjesf-ontein. The move appe-ared to be a step toward rehabilitating Klusener, who was dropped for South Africa’s tours of England and Pakistan after a poor World Cup campaign and an apparent personality clash with new South African captain Graeme Smith.

The big-hitting, left-handed batsman is one of five players with international experience who will have a chance to impress national selectors tomorrow ahead of the four Test and five one-Day-International summer series against the islanders. The others are wicketkeeper-batsman Morne van Wyk, who toured Pakistan as Mark Boucher’s understudy, fast bowler Victor Mpitsang, who returns from injury, batsman Ashweel Prince and pace bowler Charl Willoughby. Klusener has scored prolifically in domestic cricket this summer, and has bowled with something approaching his old fire.

Team: Lance Klusener (capt), Morne van Wyk, Goolam Bodi, Albie Morkel, Garnett Kruger, Vaughan van Jaarsveld, Benjamin Hector, Hash-im Amla, Victor Mpit-sang, Ashwell Prince, Charl Willoug-hby. 12th man: Welcome Plessie.