Dawson brought in for Paarl match

Alan Dawson, the Western Province allrounder who was last part of the South African squad in Nairobi in 1999, received an emergency call-up for Tuesday's Standard Bank one-day international in Paarl as yet another fast bowler clambered onto the injury list.

Allan Donald has already been ruled out of sign of the match, the third in a six-game series, and he was joined on Monday by Roger Telemachus who reported for training on Sunday with a stiff neck that showed improvement overnight.

It is likely that Dawson, who was part of South Africa's 1999 World Cup campaign, will take the new ball with Pollock. "He's been there before," said Pollock, "and he shouldn't be too rusty as long as he didn't eat too much and drink too much over the New Year."

The SOS for Dawson, now 31, means that Justin Kemp will, in all probability, have to wait before making his international debut. With South Africa holding a 2-0 lead in the series, the immediate objective is for the home side to win in Paarl on Tuesday and at Newlands on Thursday to secure the rubber.

"Yes it is a must-win game for them," agreed Pollock, "but we want to wrap up the series. It's just as important a match for us."

Pollock said that Dawson would probably take the new ball with the South African captain.

"Makhaya (Ntini) doesn't really like bowling with the new ball," said Pollock. "But we'll still have to sit down and see how the balance of the side works out."

The pitch at Paarl has traditionally played low and slow and it may be significant that Lance Klusener spent Sunday and Monday bowling off breaks in the nets at Newlands, often in the company of former South African offspinner Pat Symcox. His captain, though, does not seem completely convinced that he has a new secret weapon in his armoury.

"We'll wait and see," said Pollock. "If it's a slow pitch, he'll probably bowl four or five slow ones and a quick one, and it it's a quick pitch he'll bowl four or five quick ones and a slow one."

Pollock was unaware that Sri Lanka had sent for Aravinda de Silva to bolster the tourists' batting. De Silva has been granted an entrance visa for South Africa, but it is still not clear when he will arrive in the country.

"He's a good player of short bowling," said Pollock, "and may be they feel they need his experience."