Cricket: Taylor's fitness still in doubt for ODIs

Ross Taylor. Photo / Getty Images

As eyes turn to the South Africans, and the start of the high point of the season, so too do thoughts move to the fitness of the national captain.

Ross Taylor tore a calf muscle during his century against Zimbabwe in Napier on January 26.

A targeted return date was set as the first ODI against South Africa, in Wellington on February 25, meaning he would be ruled out of the three T20s which start, also in Wellington, on Friday.

The noises out of the New Zealand camp are that Taylor remains on course for the ODIs. The rider to that is that no chances will be taken with his fitness ahead of the three-test series.

Taylor, as national leader and the country's best batsman, will be itching to get out to the crease. But anyone reckoning it to be imperative that Taylor is back for the ODIs has rocks in their head.

If there is the slightest reservation about Taylor's fitness, not just at the crease but running about in the field, he should sit out the ODIs and prepare himself for University Oval in Dunedin and the start of the tests on March 7.

There is a Plunket Shield round, starting on February 24, where Taylor could test himself for Central Districts against Otago at Queenstown. The option is heading to the nets.

The South Africans kick off their tour against Canterbury at Hagley Oval on Wednesday, a prelude to Westpac Stadium on Friday night.

But don't go looking for the five-star names of the Proteas. Neither test captain Graeme Smith, seam bowling champion Dale Steyn nor great allrounder Jacques Kallis are here. Yet.

They will be for the ODIs and tests, with plenty of personnel changes as the tour moves from the shortest to the longest form over the next three weeks.

One of the beauties of T20 cricket is that it has opened doors to players whose game is unsuited to the demands of test matches, but well attuned to the shortest version.

Rusty Theron, Richard Levi, Colin Ingram and Justin Ontong may not trip off the tongue as readily as the heavy hitters of the South African game. But they're not here for their health, so expect South Africa to be competitive, combative and - with the world T20 coming up in Sri Lanka in September - playing with serious purpose.

The T20 team is captained by AB de Villiers, a champion batsman with strong numbers in all three forms, who will be leading his country overseas for the first time, and on his first visit to New Zealand.

His reputation is of a pro-active skipper who likes to keep things moving, and not prone to sitting on his hands. He has also talked of the importance of team spirit.

"We are a young side and we have a lot to prove," he said. "We are going to try and get a bit of a team spirit going. That's tough when you are at home, but on tour there's nothing else to do but be with your teammates. We're going to have a good time."

Which should not be read as becoming champion party boys, more that de Villiers appreciates the value of a happy, harmonious group.

The world T20 will be at the back of their minds in the early part of a tour consisting of nine internationals.

South Africa play 11 T20s before that championship. Five are against Zimbabwe, which may be of limited value, so expect these three to be the start of a serious bit of work with Sri Lanka in mind.

SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa's T20 squad: AB de Villiers (c, Northern Titans), Hashim Amla (Kwazulu Natal Dolphins), Richard Levi (Western Province Cape Cobras), Colin Ingram (Eastern Province Warriors), Justin Ontong (Cape Cobras), JP Duminy (Cape Cobras), Albie Morkel (Titans), Rusty Theron (Warriors), Johan Botha (Warriors), Marchant de Lange (Titans), Morne Morkel (Titans), Wayne Parnell (Warriors), Robin Peterson (Cape Cobras), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (Warriors).