Carr could be in running order for WP in Durban

veteran leg-spinner Imran Tahir into the reckoning. The world No 2-ranked one-day international bowler has routinely struggled to replicate his limitedovers format in the five-day arena, but the more favourable conditions of the sub-continent could finally ignite Tahir’s Test career.

Lonwabo Tsotsobe is another Proteas casualty who will be hoping for an opportunity to resurrect his international career. A former regular in the limited-overs formats for the Proteas; the left-arm swing bowler has been out of favour with coach Russell Domingo since the World T20 in Bangladesh last year.

But having worked extensively on his fitness – Tsotsobe’s primary drawback – he showed that he had lost none of his skill with the new ball especially on the recent SA ‘A’ tour. The Proteas struggled to strike early throughout the New Zealand ODI series with the Black Caps moving to over 100 for the loss of just one wicket in all three matches. Tsotsobe has long been a big performer on the slow tracks of the sub-continent and the United Arab Emirates where his variations are a real asset.

The overall make-up of the ODI squad though may work against Tsotsobe as South Africa are still searching for the elusive No 7 all-rounder. Titans slugger David Wiese failed to utilise his opportunities against the Black Caps, while Wayne Parnell could have to work his way back through big performances for new franchise the Cobras.

This could open the road for new Titans recruit Chris Morris. The lanky seamer did not play to his full potential against Bangladesh, but does deserve another opportunity. The familiar conditions of India where he has regularly played in the Indian Premier League the last couple of seasons could also possibly bring out the best in Morris. With Morris’s ability to also take the new ball alongside any one of Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander or Morne Morkel, Tsotsobe may just be the one who ultimately misses out. NIZAAM CARR is in better nick than first reported, and Kurt Coleman will hold onto the No 10 jersey for at least one more week when Western Province challenge the Sharks in Durban on Saturday (kick-off 5.05pm).

“Chances are good that Nizaam will be available to play this week,” said WP coach John Dobson yesterday. “We’ll make a call on Thursday.”

A tender hamstring forced the Province captain from the field after 30 minutes in WP’s 33-15 win against Griquas and there were concerns that Carr had suffered a muscle tear that would send him to the sidelines for multiple weeks.

“It feels good, there’s a massive improvement since Saturday,” said the nimble linkman. “I wasn’t too comfortable on Saturday after the game, I was icing it, but I feel much better now. It’s not torn, it’s just a strain.”

Dobson confirmed that, if Carr, pictured above, does not pass a fitness test, Sikhumbuzo Notshe would be recalled to the starting line-up at No 8 while scrumhalf Nic Groom would assume the captaincy.

“Our feeling is that we need a No 8 who can carry and return,” the WP coach said. “The Sharks have got a massive kicking game, so we need someone who can help with that. “Notshe would be a like-for-like replacement if Nizaam was ruled out, but we are much more confident about his hamstring than we were after the game.”

Notshe (shoulder) is one of three players who have had their names erased from the crock-list this week, including halfback Jano Vermaak (finger) and prop Oli Kebble (hamstring).

Coleman made his first start of the Currie Cup campaign – at the expense of Demetri Catrakilis – and negated some slick, probing runs with a shanked place-kick and short-range touch-finders. After the match, Dobson labelled the flyhalf position “a dilemma” and he hinted at the possibility of giving Dillyn Leyds an opportunity to solve the problem.

“It would be tough to... the thing about Kurt is that he’s been in and out (of the starting line-up) over a long time so it would be tough to leave him out without breaking his confidence,” said the WP coach. “When he’s on song, Kurt’s magic.

“We are looking at Dillyn as a back-up flyhalf, but whether that’s this week or a couple of weeks’ time, we’re not sure yet.”

Leyds will have to wait his turn in a flyhalf queue that includes Coleman, Robert du Preez, who played off the bench against Griquas, and aspirant Province pivots Jean-Luc du Plessis and Ryno Eksteen.

“In retrospect, I could have put Robert on earlier (against Griquas) but it’s easy to say that after a game,” Dobson said. “This Currie Cup is a bit of a balancing act – we need to win and get momentum, and that’s why Saturday’s win was so important, but we also owe people like Robert, Godlen Masimla and Huw Jones an opportunity.

“We need to use this competition to bring them through. Every week is a bit of a balancing act to give players a chance and to keep on winning. If every week we can make some progress, and give one or two players an opportunity, then we’re moving in the right direction.”

The defending champions got back to winning ways by pulling out of a two-game nose-dive and they are looking to glide into the second half of the league phase in third place. However, Province could drop into the bottom half of the standings if they fail to sink the Sharks, who are just two points behind in fourth place.