Something for McLaren to celebrate, and maybe more ...

Times Media

TELFORD VICE, Cape Town

A month ago, Ryan McLaren would have hoped to celebrate taking wickets in SA’s World Cup warm-up match against Sri Lanka in Christchurch next Monday. That dream ended on January 5 when selection convenor Andrew Hudson did not read out his name.

Instead, McLaren will be at home next Monday. But he will still have something to celebrate: his 32nd birthday, and in the company of his family no less.

When the 15 chosen ones embark for the Antipodes on Wednesday on SA’s latest attempt to win the World Cup, they will leave behind almost 53-million expectant compatriots - among them a few who coulda, woulda, shoulda been on the plane.

They are the nearly men, players who had strong cases for selection but did not crack Hudson’s nod. However, all may not be lost.

SA will take concerns over the state of Quinton de Kock’s ankle and JP Duminy’s knee to the World Cup, while fast bowlers seem never to be far from their next breakdown. So, hopes that will not be expressed will nevertheless smoulder quietly in several breasts as the tournament continues.

McLaren’s was the most significant omission from the squad, and his unhappiness was compounded eight days after the announcement when he injured a hamstring while playing for SA A against England Lions in Paarl.

But he hopes to be back in action for the Dolphins - and back in the SA equation - by next week.

“If anything happens, I need to be ready,” McLaren said on Monday, despite not having had “any communication from the selectors that I am on standby”.

McLaren did not hide his confusion about missing out. He had played in 44 of SA’s 53 one-day internationals from August, 2012, to his most recent ODI in November, averaging 22.40 with the bat and 25.15 with the ball. Those are not outstanding numbers, but he had became a dependable member of a team top-heavy with stars.

Morne van Wyk, who tops the averages in the franchise one-day cup with 96.50, and Lonwabo Tsotsobe, whose average of 18.08 makes him the leading seamer in the competition, know how McLaren feels.

So does Chris Morris, whose haul of 3/50 for SA A in Monday’s fourth one-dayer against the England Lions in Pretoria was burnished by the fact that he claimed it in a total of 378/6.

But, like Morris, Van Wyk, Tsotsobe or anyone else who might have cherished ambitions of playing in the World Cup, McLaren is getting on with being part of his wider world.

“It’s taken a while to get over it, but life goes on,” McLaren said. “Every now and then it hurts and it’s still disappointing, but I’ve got family and a kid to keep everything in perspective and to remind me what’s important.

“I just want to get back to why I enjoy playing the game.”

But if Hudson calls to tell him to head for Australia or New Zealand, he won’t need to wonder why.

“I’ll be there - don’t worry about that,” McLaren said. “There’s nothing better than being in a World Cup environment.”