Levi leaving - now that defies logic

Cricket is a game that often demands complicated decisions. Tough calls need to be made at times to extend careers or to change personnel to energise units.

Selectors are often confronted by dilemmas that demand deep introspection and consideration to ensure that the correct path is taken so as not to hamper progression. A headlining case in point is the recent dropping of one of the game's finest in Australia.

Ponting's omission from coloured clothing is the correct one that in turn will provide longevity to his test career and enable him to make the final curtain call on his outstanding tenure at the top. The new Australian selectors have bitten the bullet and made the call based on the fact that they believe there is sufficient talent that must not be inhibited due to sentiment. That is a welcome and bold progression considering their prior, often confusing selections with the previous panel.

One of the easiest selection calls has just been atrociously bungled by the South African brainstrust. It is incomprehensible to think that Richard Levi has been asked to jet back to SA and not remain in New Zealand for the one-day tournament. The Kiwis will be breathing a huge sigh of relief!

Why on earth would you not want to develop that precocious talent and showcase that dominance? Few in the world have ever exhibited the clean striking skills that Levi just displayed and those match-winning talents must be utilised to the fullest.

The statement issued about honouring the existing selection process is disturbing and defies logic. In my mind the selectors erred in a similar fashion earlier in the summer when the one-day domestic dominance of Rudolph was ignored and he was also not timeously drafted into the national one-day squad. In fact, when the test matches came around and he got the nod in whites, his star was not burning so brightly.

Levi is exactly the type of player who must be permitted to express himself and excel when running hot. The game has only ever been littered with a handful of game-breakers of the calibre of Levi, who can influence the outcome in the blink of an eye.

Just imagine the long-term benefits to South African cricket if Levi had stayed in New Zealand and also won a 50-over game through his expressive skill base.

It's a no-brainer in my book and a massive trick has been missed. We keep hearing about how essential flexibility is in the process. Really??