Cricket: Harry's game needs to pass the South African test

By RICHARD BOOCK

If there was a case for choosing the player most overdue for success on South African soil, veteran New Zealand allrounder Chris Harris would surely rate an early nomination.

Before last night's match against the West Indies, the long-serving one-day specialist had played in all New Zealand's 12 ODIs in the Republic - including four outings against Sri Lanka, without yet being part of a winning performance.

The New Zealand team's most experienced player, Harris will have a chance to make amends at the Wanderers on Sunday, when New Zealand meet the tournament favourites in a match they need to win for a couple of reasons.

Not only would a win give their campaign a shot in the arm, but the prospect of loosening South Africa's long-running stranglehold on the side should provide Harris and Co with reason enough to seek a special effort at the Wanderers.

Harris, almost certainly playing in his last cup, has proved his worth to the side on numerous occasions and has a proud record in the tournament, including some magic touches in 1992 and 1996.

He starred with the ball in his first cup as New Zealand surged to the semifinals, and was a key member of the next campaign, his highlight coming in the quarter-final at Chennai when he blazed a mercurial 130 against Australia.

He had his moments in the previous tournament at England as well, using his slow-mediums to good effect on the fresh England pitches, and playing a prominent role as New Zealand qualified for their fourth semifinal.

His biggest problem, just as it is with many of his team-mates, is the South Africans, who seem to dine out on his style of bowling and have the type of attack that can exploit his weaknesses with the bat.

It is this vulnerability that has qualified his usually-impeccable credentials in the shorter game, and it will be something he would desperately like to address against the South Africans, when New Zealand are assured of true underdog status.

For someone who has played 222 ODIs, has a batting average of 29.84 and a bowling average of 36.40, Harris has proved a major disappointment against South Africa in the Republic, playing eight times for eight losses, including a batting average of 15.00 and a bowling average of 56.33.

His record in South Africa appeared to be noticed by chairman of selectors Sir Richard Hadlee, in particular, to the extent that he was left out of the early games against India this summer, and was apparently the last member of the touring party selected.

To make things even more interesting, Hadlee insisted Harris prove his worth as a top-order batsman against India, reasoning that his bowling was unlikely to cut the mustard in South Africa, and that there were more useful allrounders to bat down the order.

Jacob Oram was one who developed quickly this season and created a bottleneck in the mid-to-lower order, Andre Adams was another, and the emergence of Kyle Mills only added to the clutter, forcing Hadlee to consider Harris in a different role.

Complicating the matter further this season was the recall of Otago gloveman Brendon McCullum, who was often used in the No 7 position to help him become established, another factor that has counted against Harris.

The Canterbury stalwart made his debut in South Africa during the notorious "drugs, sex and rock'n roll" tour of 1994-95, playing in the four matches at the Mandela Trophy tri-series.

He possibly found the 2000 tour even more frustrating, as he was on top of his game and was expected to play a big part in New Zealand's bid to win their first ODI on South African soil.

As it happened, New Zealand were routed 5-0 with one no-result, and Harris remained frustratingly ineffectual, posting a highest score of 19 at Benoni and never really threatening with the ball.

In total, the 33-year-old has played 30 matches against South Africa, and has been part of a winning combination on only four occasions - at the 1992 World Cup in New Zealand, at Adelaide in 1997-98, at Carisbrook the following season and in last summer's thrilling triumph at Melbourne.

As it happened, the most recent win was the first in the past 16 games between the two sides, meaning South Africa will be hot favourites when they take on New Zealand.

For all that, a strong all-round performance from Harris would go a long way towards breaking the hold Shaun Pollock's men seem to have over New Zealand.

We can only live and hope.

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