Tsotsobe raps on door

One swallow does not make a summer and one good performance doesn't mean Lonwabo Tsotsobe is ready to be a Protea again, according to Makhaya Ntini.

Tsotsobe's 5/44 for the Highveld Lions against the Chevrolet Warriors in the One Day Cup, however, was just the tonic to put himself in the national selectors' line of sight once more, said former Proteas speedster Ntini.

"Boom!" Tsotsobe screamed in delight after claiming his fifth victim on Sunday, Sisanda Magala.

"This is a good start to establish himself once again," said Ntini.

"He's had a wake-up call. He hasn't been performing the way we thought he should be performing, even before his struggles with injuries and stuff.

"He's got the talent and the ability to go back to No1 on the ODI bowler rankings.

"They chose Mthokozisi Shezi ahead of him for the Proteas tour to Zimbabwe [a triangular series] and they've also called up Kagiso Rabada [for the T20 squad to New Zealand and Australia]. In the past, he was the one filling that extra bowling position.

"He did well by performing against the Warriors but we mustn't quickly say he is now ready to play for South Africa.

"When it comes to national team selection, it can't be earned by performing in one game."

In a match in which Neil McKenzie and Quinton de Kock made the Warriors fielders sweat, Tsotsobe bowled with good rhythm.

He was, however, still some way from the form that took him to the top of the world rankings in 2012.

There were times when he gave the batmen a few deliveries to whack by bowling too full or offering too much width for a bowler of his pace.

"It is now going to be difficult for him to force his way back, considering there's a young Rabada also in the mix," warned Ntini.

"If Rabada performs well in Australia and New Zealand, he will heap more pressure on Tsotsobe. And Rabada's youth means he might be more willing to obey the captain's instructions.

But another former Protea, Lance Klusner, said Tsotsobe had enough time and talent to unlock the selection back door.

"I saw some of his bowling and it looked pretty sharp. That's good," Klusener said.