East London, Nov. 12 :    East London, Nov. 12:  It's reasonable to say behind every successful team is a consistent selection policy. It's been so in Australia. In South Africa, too. However, in the South African context, convenor (chairman) of selectors Rushdi Magiet refuses to take credit. .Oh, we were consistent during the days of my predecessor (Peter Pollock) as well... I.m only continuing that policy,. the 58-year-old Magiet told The Telegraphthis morning. Magiet, the senior-most selector (he was on the committee even during pre-unification days), added: .While consistency is a factor,we look to pick the best team. And, within that, form and experience come into play. Fitness, too. Today, for instance, we are faced with the Allan Donald and Daryll Cullinan issues. Donald is getting fit; Cullinan already is.... A former first-class cricketer (allrounder with Western Province), Magiet has held the No.1 job for over two years now. It's been a period which saw South African cricket hit by the biggest scandal-ever: Hansie Cronje's involvement with match-fixing. . Well, yes, nobody was prepared for that... I think much of the credit, for the continuing smooth state of affairs, must go to captain Shaun Pollock.Though he was Cronje's deputy, there was no guarantee he would actually get the top job. Yet, he has been outstanding from the very day he got the captaincy (mid-April, 2000),.Magiet remarked. Speaking generally,Magiet pointed out that while the selectors are consistent, there has also been a .conscious effort. to .progressively. infuse fresh blood. .We.ve done so with care, but have done it all the same. Mornantau Hayward, Boeta Dippenaar, Neil McKenzie... Obviously, the core group of eight/nine remains the same.... Incidentally, while the captain and coach are invited to selection meetings, they are kept out of the picture should there be a .dispute.. As Magiet put it: .The decision, finally, is that of the selectors. After all, it's our job to pick the team. Moreover, we are accountable to our Board's Council.. Magiet enjoys a casting vote but, smiling, insisted it had never been used. .Even if there's a disagreement, we aim for consensus. Of course, there can be arguments and it's not unhealthy to have a difference of opinion... Eventually, however,we pick a team acceptable to all on the selection panel.. The selection committee is six-strong and while there's a similarity with India, for instance, the selectors must be elected annually, there's a significant difference: The committee's composition isn.t on provincial lines in that one province can have more than one selector. Also, all provinces don.t get representation. In the present committee, Magiet and Haron Lorgat are from Western Province, Graeme Pollock and Morris Garda from Gauteng (formerly Transvaal), Mike Procter from Natal and Peter Bacela from Border. Interestingly, one selector (at least) is always on tour and, before the playing XI is decided, he .consults. the convenor. It's a different scenario should the convenor himself be with the team. The forthcoming tour of Australia, for example, will see Pollock there for the first two Tests,Magiet himself in the second and third Tests and Procter during the oneday series. Who goes where is decided by the convenor. Back home, Chandu Borde will surely be delighted if he and his colleagues are extended the same facility.