Features

England prepare for South Africa

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 26/10/2009
Cricket betting

England's Ashes-winning team will face a stern challenge when they face South Africa 11 times this winter, starting with a Twenty20 International on November 13.

It has been only 15 months since South Africa's tour of England, the second time the countries have fought for the Basil D'Oliveira Trophy after England claimed the inaugural title in 2004.

Four years later South Africa had their revenge, claiming the trophy named after the South African-born England international with a 2-1 series win.

Despite the scoreline suggesting a tight series, the overall result flattered England as they claimed victory in the fourth and final Test only after the Proteas had let their guard down.

The series win was the first for South Africa in England since 1965 and it had a devastating effect on the England side.

Michael Vaughan quit after England went 2-0 down, beginning the ill-fated reign of Kevin Pietersen, while Ian Bell, Tim Ambrose and Monty Panesar were all cast aside as the ECB took measures to halt the apparent decline of the national side.

In many ways these decisions were a blessing as they led England towards the group of players that would clinch the Ashes a year later.

In fact the team appears to have turned upside down since that series defeat. Not only have they improved as a Test side, they have also declined as a limited overs force.

At the time, England's 4-0 hammering of a world-class one day side looked set to herald a new era for the national side.

Yet since then they have won just six of the 20 ODIs played, excluding their more encouraging performance in the ICC Champions Trophy, where their two victories included a moral-boosting 22 run win over the Proteas.

Despite that improvement, England will be wary of expecting victory in any form of the game in South Africa against the sportsbook favourites.

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Graeme Smith's side were a mixed bunch last winter and spring, when they faced Australia down under and at home in back-to-back Test and ODI series.

Worryingly for England, it was their limited overs performances that were the most impressive, winning seven of the 10 ODIs and two of the four T20s.

With that form in mind, alongside England's dismal 6-1 ODI loss to the Aussies this summer, Andrew Strauss' team would be forgiven for conceding defeat early in the limited overs matches, although the selection of a new-look one-day squad should make the contest a touch more interesting.

Sajid Mahmood, Jonathan Trott and Alastair Cook are among the players looking to establish themselves in the team, while South African-born Pietersen could return for the end of the ODI series.

In contrast, the Test series is set to be an intriguing affair. England have, if anything, an improved side than the one that was below-par in the summer despite winning the Ashes 2-1.

The doubts about the middle order have been helped by the return to form of Paul Collingwood, the future return from injury of Pietersen and the decision not to take Ravi Bopara and Owais Shah.

Meanwhile South Africa, on paper the stronger team, haven't played a Test since March and could find themselves a touch rusty, although their domestic season is now under-way.

Little has changed since the 2-1 series defeat to Australia, although they will have Smith back to lead the number one ranked Test team after he fractured a finger in the Second Test against the Aussies.

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