Windies tormentor Pollock back for 3rd Test

The South African selectors resisted the temptation to rush Pollock back into the side for the start of the series and instead allowed him to prove his fitness in the domestic Pro20 competition. Yesterday he smashed 49 from 36 balls and bowled his four overs for just 18 runs.

Pollock’s arrival in the Caribbean will mean a reshuffle to the bowling attack that powered South Africa to victory during the Second Test in Trinidad. Makhaya Ntini took 13 wickets, while Andre Nel has put in some wholehearted performances and would be unlucky to lose the new ball.

But Pollock told SABC News that he is willing to fight for his place: "That is obviously the chance I have to take once I get over there. You can do only so much bowling in the nets, and I just have to see if they are willing to take the risk for the Third Test. If not then I will bowl in the nets and play in the fourth Test match."

A more likely option is that Monde Zondeki will drop out of the team to allow Pollock to return, a move which would also add considerable strength to the lower order. South Africa have struggled to cover Pollock’s absence, trying a combination of Andrew Hall and Charl Langeveldt for the first Test in Guyana before reverting to a more balanced attack at Port-of-Spain – a move that paid dividends with an eight-wicket victory.

Pollock has played 93 Tests, including 131 innings, scoring 3,120 runs with a highest score of 111 and an average of 31.20. Pollock has been not out 31 times and has scored two centuries and 13 half-centuries. He has also taken 65 catches. In the bowling department he has bowled 3,518.2 overs in his 93 Tests and claimed a South African record of 377 wickets with a best bowling performance of 7-87.