Speed Marchant to Pretoria

Former Proteas spin bowler Pat Symcox warned yesterday that picking a spinner for the first cricket test would play into the hands of Sri Lanka.

South Africa and Sri Lanka meet from tomorrow in the first of three tests in Centurion and there has been widespread speculation about whether South Africa's selectors will decide to play legspinner Imran Tahir or opt for the pace of fast-bowling prospect Marchant de Lange.

Symcox, normally a champion of spin bowling, said an all-out pace attack was the answer if the test pitch at Centurion had pace and bounce.

"Traditionally, playing against Sri Lanka, you want to play as many guys who can get bounce as you can," said Symcox.

"The Sri Lankans are not going to wake in the morning worrying about facing Tahir, so why play him? They are dying to face the spinner, so logically you'd give the chance to De Lange."

He said the Titans fast bowler needed to play sooner rather than later.

"We go to New Zealand early next year. Then we go to England. Ahead of the time, you've got some serious cricket. At what point do you start saying we must stop relying so much on Dale Steyn as the go-to guy - and how long can Gary (Kirsten) keep his bowlers fresh? Do you want to have to blood De Lange in the first test in England because Steyn or Morkel is injured?

"At what point do you actually let him play and see if he's good enough at that level?

"Maybe, the answer is to do it in South Africa rather than on flat pitches in New Zealand or in England, and under pressure."

Symcox said Tahir should be considered for the second test starting on Boxing Day at Kingsmead, his home ground.

"It might not be a bad idea to play Tahir at his home ground. It's will be a tough call. But at Kingsmead it's about the weather - if there is cloud cover.

"If it looks as if it's going to be hot and dry for most of the test, I'd play the spinner."

Selection chief Andrew Hudson last week hinted that Tahir would play ahead of De Lange, but yesterday, Hashim Amla said South Africa would be tempted to field an all-pace attack.

"It is up to the coach and captain," said Amla. "We will have to see what the pitch is like. But our pitches usually tend to assist seamers."

Said Steyn, ominously: "We want to hit the bat in areas where they will feel uncomfortable."

TEST SQUADS

SOUTH AFRICA (from): Graeme Smith (captain), AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, Marchant de Lange, Imran Tahir, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Alviro Petersen, Vernon Philander, Ashwell Prince, Jacques Rudolph, Dale Steyn

SRI LANKA (from): Tillakaratne Dilshan (captain), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dilhara Fernando, Rangana Herath, Mahela Jayawardene, Dimuth Karunaratne, Ajantha Mendis, Tharanga Paranavitana, Thisara Perera, Thilan Samaraweera, Kumar Sangakkara, Kaushal Silva, Lahiru Thirimanne, Chanaka Welegedara

UMPIRES: Steve Davis (Aus), Rod Tucker (Aus)

START: 10.30am