Kevin Pietersen has pressed England to carry out a serious investigation into his suspicion that his England team mates Graeme Swann and James Anderson were feeding information to the parody Twitter account - KP Genius - in a prolonged stalemate that continues to dog attempts to reintegrate him into the England team.
Pietersen has made an England investigation a central part of any rapprochement with England. Initial meetings with the England coach, Andy Flower, a week ago failed to find immediate common ground for a resumption of his international career.
Selectors are due to announce in the next few days the Test squad to tour India. He was also not named in England's list of central contracts for 2012 although it was indicated that other names could be added.
The account, which suggested Pietersen was vainglorious and obsessed by money, was followed by several members of the team and, at times, even elicited a good-humoured response from Pietersen before his attitude abruptly changed as his relationships with the ECB and his England team mates deteriorated.
Richard Bailey, a cricket lover who shares a house with a couple of members of the Nottinghamshire team and is a friend of England's T20 captain Stuart Broad, had admitted he was behind the account and insists no-one else was involved.
Broad has denied any involvement or knowledge of the account and it has subsequently been discontinued. An Cricket Super News investigation also exonerated Broad and suggested that Bailey was the only person responsible.
But Pietersen remains convinced that other England players were involved - and he has made his feelings clear. If he is to reach what he views as a fair compromise with his reputation intact and with an admission of faults on both sides then it seems that he is not prepared to let this matter rest. Whether a dressing room could knit together again after such a lengthy dispute is questionable.
Specifically he feels that the contents of private conversations between him, Anderson and Swann were referenced in various tweets. As a consequence, Pietersen feels he has been the victim of double standards after being disciplined for sending private messages to members of the South Africa touring party that contained derogatory comments about recently retired England Test captain Andrew Strauss.
Cricket Super News is not aware that Pietersen has provided definite proof that either Swann or Anderson were directly involved.
The episode is a headache that will not go away for Flower. Coming days before England depart for Sri Lanka in an attempt to defend their World T20 title and days before they name their Test squad for the tour of India, it is a distraction that he and the players could well do without. If Pietersen has hard evidence to support his views - and it is hard to see how he does - then the results could be devastating.
With both sides apparently too entrenched in their views to accept an amnesty, it is also hard to see a happy ending to a saga that continues to damage the individuals and the England team.
Pakistan v Australia
Pakistan v Australia, 1st T20, Dubai
Toss Pakistan chose to field v Australia
Mohammad Hafeez won the toss and sent Australia in to bat in the first Twenty20 international in Dubai.
Pakistan named two debutants in their side, the opening batsman Nasir Jamshed and the left-arm spinner Raza Hasan, while Umar Gul was also back in the team having been left out of the one-day internationals. Imran Nazir was also included for his first match for Pakistan in two and a half years.
The allrounder Glenn Maxwell, who made a promising start to his international career during Australia's 2-1 win in the ODIs, was named to make his T20 international debut. The 41-year-old spinner Brad Hogg was not included and Australia's spin duties were largely to be handled by Xavier Doherty.
Pat Cummins and Ben Hilfenhaus were the only specialist fast bowlers in a line-up heavy on the batsmen, with Shane Watson also back after missing the ODIs. The former captain Cameron White was also included and could bat as low as No.8, and might be called on for some overs of legspin.
Pakistan 1 Mohammad Hafeez (capt), 2 Nasir Jamshed, 3 Umar Akmal, 4 Imran Nazir, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Kamran Akmal (wk), 7 Abdul Razzaq, 8 Sohail Tanvir, 9 Raza Hasan, 10 Umar Gul, 11 Saeed Ajmal.
Australia 1 Shane Watson, 2 David Warner, 3 Matthew Wade (wk), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 David Hussey, 6 George Bailey (capt), 7 Glenn Maxwell, 8 Cameron White, 9 Ben Hilfenhaus, 10 Pat Cummins, 11 Xavier Doherty.
Jonathan Trott has been ruled out of action for three to four weeks meaning he will miss the end of the English domestic season, after scans revealed a fracture to his right hand, but is expected to be fit for the start of the tour to India.Trott took a blow from Dale Steyn during the fourth ODI against South Africa at Lord's on Sunday and although initial x-rays did not reveal serious damage further investigation has found an undisplaced fracture on his middle finger.
It means Trott will be unavailable for the CB40 final against Hampshire at Lord's and the final round of Championship matches, although Warwickshire are on the brink of securing the four-day title with a game to spare.
An ECB statement said: "Although initial X-rays were clear, a subsequent MRI scan revealed a fracture at the base of his third metacarpal. No intervention is required and the 31-year-old should be able to resume batting in 3-4 weeks and is expected to available for the tour of India next month."
Jonny Bairstow took Trott's place for the final one-day international against South Africa at Trent Bridge and Ravi Bopara moved up to No. 3 but fell for a second ball duck to Dale Steyn.
England are expected to name their Test squad for India next week before the start of the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka. There are a number of issues to resolve, not least whether Kevin Pietersen will be available but also the likely absence of Ian Bell for the Mumbai Test as his wife is due to give birth.
England v South Africa
England v South Africa, 5th NatWest ODI, Trent Bridge
Innings break England 182 (Cook 51, Peterson 3-37) v South AfricaEngland's hopes of rounding off a successful year in one-day internationals with another series victory suffered a blow at Trent Bridge as they stumbled to 182 all out. Many of their problems were self-inflicted as they allowed South Africa to make regular inroads, with the visitors fielding what looked their best-balanced team of the series.
Six of South Africa's seven bowlers shared the wicket-taking. Robin Peterson, who started with the new ball, took 3 for 37 while there were two apiece for Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. The biggest bonus for them, especially in light of strengthening the batting with the inclusion of Justin Ontong, were the scalps taken by part-time spinners JP Duminy and Faf du Plessis. England were bowled out with 28 deliveries unused in a batting display that had an distinct end-of-term feeling, or at least of minds on Twenty20 cricket.
The stuffing was knocked out of the innings as England gifted away three wickets in six overs after Alastair Cook and Jonny Bairstow had started a recovery from 24 for 2 - one of the early losses that of the struggling Ravi Bopara, for a duck. Bairstow, who had replaced the injured Jonathan Trott, could not have picked out deep square-leg with more precision when he flicked Morkel off his pads straight to Ontong.
Then in the next over, Duminy's first, Eoin Morgan tried to clear mid-on and offered a simple catch and England's most dynamic one-day player had gone without scoring. Moments after the halfway mark of the innings it got worse for England when Cook, having reached a steady fifty from 69 balls, punched a low full toss back to du Plessis - the seventh bowler used - also in his first over to leave the home side tottering on 99 for 5.
There was little option but to just try and bat out the innings, but each time a partnership was starting to form a loose shot gave it away. Samit Patel got into a tangle against a slower-ball bouncer from Steyn - who bowled beautifully throughout - and gloved a catch to the keeper while Craig Kieswetter, after showing promising signs, tried to clear the infield in the Powerplay but could only sky a catch to mid-off.
The generous nature of the batting continued with James Tredwell missing a charge at Peterson and, perhaps most inexplicably, James Anderson tried to launch him down the ground first ball and did not get further than mid-off. With Chris Woakes, a player of considerable batting talent, at the other end it was brainless cricket.
However, there is no doubt who has the most frazzled mind of England's batsmen right now. Bopara had been promoted to No. 3 in the absence of Trott and, after leaving his first delivery from Steyn, was drawn into pushing at his next and edging to AB de Villiers. It was a good delivery, moving away late from the right hander, but Bopara did not offer much footwork and it was a carbon copy of his previous two dismissals, meaning he ends the series with scores of 16, 0, 6 and 0.
He had come to the crease early because Ian Bell fell lbw to Peterson with the new ball. It was not the first time Peterson had enjoyed success in such a role against England having previously taken two wickets in his first over of the World Cup match in Chennai last year (and later added Bell on that occasion, too).
Here Bell was trapped by a delivery that slid on with the arm although he opted for the review only to see it confirmed as striking leg stump. However, Peterson was not given another over with Morkel, who had been recalled in place of Lonwabo Tsotsobe, brought into the attack to target Bairstow.
Bairstow responded with a sweet clip through midwicket to open his account followed by another boundary through the off side off the back foot. This was the ground where Bairstow was roughed up by Kemar Roach in the Test match but since then has responded resoundingly. He did, however, get given a life on 10 when de Villiers could not grasp an inside edge that carried low to his left off Steyn although was unable to really make it count. From the moment he departed, England's innings never regained a foothold.
England v South Africa
England v South Africa, 5th NatWest ODI, Trent Bridge
Match Facts
Trent Bridge, September 5
Start time: 2.00pm (1300 GMT)
Start time: 2.00pm (1300 GMT)
The Big Picture
England's victory at Lord's ensured their unbeaten run at home continues - they have not lost an ODI series at home since 2009 when Australia won by a country mile. But that was After the Lord Mayor's Show since the Ashes were already won and South Africa will cast this series off as just the same, particularly if they lose the final rubber.
With the No. 1 ranking secure until the new year, England have at least a major achievement to take away from this summer and are building well. The test of their progress will come in India but for the time being they can be content with several plus points that bode well for their long term vision towards the 2015 World Cup. One of those is the offspinner James Tredwell who was superb at Lord's. He has proved a more than capable replacement for Graeme Swann and England should be confident that should Swann need to be rested, Tredwell is the wings.
South Africa will need to play Tredwell, and Samit Patel far better if they are to put a good total on the board - their downfall in the two games they have lost. Their middle order is beginning to look as fragile as Australia's earlier in the summer, although the quality of personnel in the South Africa line-up is far better on paper; but they haven't delivered as AB de Villiers conceded.
Their bowling also lacked punch at Lord's and Morne Morkel is needed back in the attack if South Africa are to maintain pressure and get below Eoin Morgan sooner in the innings. They will be pleased that Jonathan Trott isn't available for England, who will most likely bring in Jonny Bairstow and either promote Ravi Bopara or Craig Kieswetter to No. 3.
Form guide
(Most recent first, completed matches)England WWLWW
South Africa LLWWW
South Africa LLWWW
Watch out for
Ravi Bopara has been on a downward spiral with the bat since his self-inflicted exile from the second Test. With Trott out of the side, Bopara should be looking forward to more time at the crease but his current form may see England opt to keep Bopara at No. 4 and reduce the risk of losing two early wickets. Fortunately for Bopara his bowling is keeping him in the side but he needs runs.
AB de Villiers has not made the big runs he produced against Sri Lanka and New Zealand earlier this year and by his own admission has been guilty of not continuing his starts - 39, 28 and 28 in the last three games - into scores that could put England under pressure chasing. With several players around him out of form, de Villiers needs a captain's knock at Trent Bridge.
Team news
England's only change would be Bairstow for Trott if Trott does not recover in time from his hand injury. If Trott doesn't play, England could move Craig Kieswetter up the order to save the out-of-form Bopara going in at No. 3 under pressure.
England (possible) 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Ian Bell, 3 Craig Kieswetter (wkt), 4 Ravi Bopara, 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Jonny Bairstow, 7 Samit Patel, 8 James Tredwell, 9 James Anderson, 10 Steven Finn, 11 Jade Dernbach
South Africa lacked bite to their bowling attack and will want to get Morne Morkel back into their XI, possibly in place of Lonwabo Tsotsobe. Justin Ontong is also an option to replace one of the middle-order batsmen.
South Africa (possible) 1 Graeme Smith, 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Dean Elgar, 4 AB de Villiers (capt & wk), 5 JP Duminy, 6 Faf du Plessis, 7 Ryan McLaren, 8 Wayne Parnell, 9 Robin Peterson, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Morne Morkel
Pitch and conditions
The Trent Bridge wickets have got better as the season has progressed and with the weather forecast set for warm and sunny, batting first will be the desired option given the September dew may come into play under the floodlights.
Stats and trivia
- If England win they will have reeled off eight series victories in a row at home, stretching back to 2009. Of the previous 11 series, England won just three.
- Since returning to the England ODI side at the start of this year, Ian Bell averages 59.88 with 539 runs.
- Morne Morkel needs three wickets to reach 100 in ODIs
Quotes
"It'd be nice to see him back in England colours. He's a great player; we know he's a class player. I hope for him things turn out well."
Despite his side's success in one-day cricket Ravi Bopara would like to see Kevin Pietersen back for England
Despite his side's success in one-day cricket Ravi Bopara would like to see Kevin Pietersen back for England
"I've seen them win matches for their teams back home on the big stage in finals and stuff like that. But they are inexperienced and when you have inexperience in your team you need the senior players to take control, including myself."
AB de Villiers identifies how his batting order can improve.
AB de Villiers identifies how his batting order can improve.
England v South Africa
South Africa in England 2012
Jonathan Trott is doubtful for the final one-day international against South Africa following the hand injury he sustained from Dale Steyn at Lord's on Sunday although x-rays have ruled out a major facture.
Trott took a blow on his right hand early in his innings of 48 and was in clear pain throughout the rest of his stay in the middle and had two visits from the physio.
An ECB statement said: "X-rays of the hand rule out any major fracture, further medical assessment will be required tomorrow."
If Trott is ruled out of the Trent Bridge match it will mean a likely recall for Jonny Bairstow who is the spare batsman in the squad. He has been unfortunate not to find a place in the starting XI during the series following his successful return to the Test side at Lord's, where he made 95 and 54, plus his impressive unbeaten 68 in the Friends Life t20 semi-final against Sussex.
England have opted to stick with Ravi Bopara despitehis problems with the bat where his series scores are 16, 0 and 6. Bopara, though, has bowled well and took 2 for 34 at Lord's. As yet, England have not drafted any cover into the squad.
Trott has been the anchor of England's batting during their two victories in the series which have given them an unbeatable 2-1 lead and ensured they will retain the No. 1 ranking going into 2013. He made 71 at The Oval and 48 at Lord's, forming crucial partnerships with the more aggressive Eoin Morgan and Ian Bell.
Trott's stability at No. 3 has also helped compensate for the lean time of Alastair Cook who has yet to post a significant score in the series. Trott has been in early in all three completed matches with England having opening stands of 0, 14 and 2.
England 224 for 4 (Bell 88, Trott 48) beat South Africa 220 for 8 (Amla 45, Tredwell 3-35) by six wickets
Stumped Kieswetter bowled Tredwell is hardly the commonest entry on England scorecards, but it dominated proceedings at Lord's as England took a 2-1 lead against South Africa in the NatWest series with one to play and as a result ensured they would complete the series at the top of the ODI rankings. India will have the opportunity to claim that status when they face England in January.
Three times, James Tredwell lured a South Africa batsman down the pitch and three times Craig Kieswetter completed a stumping. It was the first time an England wicketkeeper had pulled off three stumpings in a one-day international and it set them en route to a comprehensive six-wicket victory with 20 balls to spare.
Ian Bell, with 88 from 137 balls, ensured England's run chase would stay on course, a task not entirely straightforward with the floodlights piercing the gloom and mizzle causing a 20-minute stoppage. He fell with victory in sight, making room to cut Dale Steyn, South Africa's one bowler of menace, over the off side and edging to the wicketkeeper, his man-of-the-match award assured. Craig Kieswetter completed victory to cheers by depositing Steyn fox six into the pavilion.
Bell's Warwickshire team mate, Jonathan Trott offered, grim, indeed grimacing, support, in a second-wicket stand of 141 in 31 overs, batting on gamely for 48 after being struck on the hand during a fiery opening spell from Steyn, who also removed Alastair Cook lbw in his first over with a high-class inswinger. Trott, not as much as a Bear with a sore head as a Bear with a sore hand, will have a hospital scan on Monday morning.
Trott took a blow on the hand in Steyn's third over and needed pain-killing spray and tablets as he batted on manfully in obvious discomfort. One uppercut over point off Tsotsobe Lonwabo was followed by a curse at the discomfort and he settled for wise deflections thereafter. Not that it would have unduly bothered him.
Like Trott, Tredwell is a representative of an unglamorous species. His very appearance, unassuming in manner, deliberate in tread and economical of hair, accentuates the impression. He does not even deal in Graeme Swann's happy brand of kidology. But South Africa will give more attention to this thoughtful Kent cricketer after his figures of 3 for 34 gave England an advantage they never relinquished.
It was an influential toss for England to win on a murky, overcast September morning. Their catching and fielding was again sketchy, but at least the Tredwell/Kieswetter combination was working well. JP Duminy, who had looked fallible against Swann's off spin earlier in the summer, was the first batsman removed, in Tredwell's second over. Then he returned in his second spell to defeat de Villiers' expansive drive and extended the habit by finding appreciable turn past Wayne Parnell's outside edge.
Tredwell's success transformed his morning. He has the convivial air of a suburban doctor and any self-diagnosis changed from feeling decidedly poorly to tip-top condition. He began by dropping Hashim Amla at second slip, not a habit designed to make winning cricket matches any easier. Amla had 5 when Finn found the edge and Tredwell, fingers pointing downwards as the ball reached him at shoulder height, fumbled a chance he made more awkward than it might have been. England have been dropping Amla throughout the summer and have given him more than 500 additional runs since the start of the Test series. Here they also lose their review in attempting to have an lbw call overturned.
Ravi Bopara, who was unfortunate not to have Amla lbw, belatedly removed him for 45, seaming the ball back a little into the stumps as he defeated a loose drive. It was the sort of classically English late-season day when Bopara's wobbly medium pace had an influential role to play. But Bopara's batting was again found wanting, an unfocused innings ending cheaply when Ryan McLaren defeated a lethargic drive.
Tredwell, the latest addition to a rickety England close-catching cordon, also missed Graeme Smith at slip off Finn when Kieswetter dived across him and unsettled his view, the ball striking him on the body; they were a happier couple when they were a length of the pitch apart. Smith's reprieve was not too costly for England as Dernbach surprised him with a bouncer which he top-edged through to the keeper.
Once he and Amla departed, many who followed lacked the same threat. De Villiers, with 39 from 45 balls, got himself into a position to play a decisive innings before Tredwell pushed one a little wider for the stumping, but Faf du Plessis is horribly out of form as he proved when he unwisely tried to run a ball from Bopara against the Lord's slope.
Elgar is another South Africa batsman who has been inhibited in English conditions. His 35 occupied 59 balls before he tried to pull Finn's slower-ball bouncer and gloved to the keeper. Ryan McLaren was run out the next ball, Finn's disappointment when a good appeal for lbw was refused turning to delight when Dernbach dashed around the boundary at third man and hit the stumps direct.
That South Africa made as many as they did was largely thanks to a highly-imaginative unbeaten 31 from 20 balls by Robin Peterson, the highlight of which was a reverse hit over extra cover for six into the Grandstand. But South Africa's one-day side lacks the balance and certainty that the Test XI displayed so emphatically.
Match Facts
Lord's, September 2
Start time: 10.15am (0915GMT)
The Big Picture
It was not quite a new era for English cricket at The Oval on Friday, but Alastair Cook's first match since being confirmed as the new Test captain was a much-needed victory for the home side as they levelled the one-day series with their first win over South Africa this season.
The four-wicket success was not flashy or especially thrilling, but very efficient and effective which, after a difficult few weeks, was just what England needed to get themselves back on track. It also confirmed that there is not an awful lot between the two teams. The series will now go to the wire in Nottingham next week, but whoever takes the honours at Lord's on Sunday knows they cannot lose.
As has been shown by the yo-yo nature of the last two games it is very difficult to say who has the momentum. England's attack had an extra cutting edge with the return of Jade Dernbach, who took an impressive 3 for 44, and it was a smart move by the hosts to target the stumps considering their recent catching form and they claimed six bowled dismissals and an lbw.
South Africa are finding out that balancing their side in the absence of Jacques Kallis is not easy. They were a batsman light at The Oval and coupled with some lose shots by the top order it left them 30 runs short. If Wayne Parnell, who later bowled very accurately, is to bat at No. 7 the onus is on one of the top four to bat through the innings as Hashim Amla did in Southampton.
Form guide (Most recent first, completed matches)
England WLWWW
South Africa LWWWW
Watch out for...
Ian Bell has threatened to dominate the South Africa attack in this series without kicking on to a major innings. Rain curtailed him in Cardiff, then a good delivery by Robin Peterson in Southampton before he missed a straight ball from Dale Steyn at The Oval. He looks in good touch and he will not want to waste it. With Cook struggling for a little form and fluency it is important that Bell takes the pressure off his captain.
In the absence of Kallis, and with an eye to the future, JP Duminy needs to show he is a senior batsman in this one-day side. Twice in this series he has played himself in and then given it away, with his miscued shot at The Oval coming at an especially crucial moment with the lower order exposed. His stock rose during the Test series and now he needs to consolidate his one-day position.
Team news
England could well go with an unchanged side which would still mean no place for Jonny Bairstow. Ravi Bopara's tight 10 overs in the previous match will probably earn him another outing despite his batting struggles. Samit Patel did not bowl at The Oval, so in theory Bairstow could replace him, but Cook is likely to want the insurance as Bopara is unlikely to string together a full spell too often.
England (possible) 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Ian Bell, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Ravi Bopara, 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Craig Kieswetter (wk), 7 Samit Patel, 8 James Tredwell, 9 James Anderson, 10 Steven Finn, 11 Jade Dernbach
South Africa would like to be able to bring back allrounder Albie Morkel to help balance the side but his fitness situation was still unclear following ankle problems. If he is still ruled out, they may need to recall McLaren to offer a little more batting and Lonwabo Tsotsobe could be the one to make way after a poor display at The Oval. Justin Ontong would be another option in the middle order.
South Africa (possible) 1 Graeme Smith, 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Dean Elgar, 4 AB de Villiers (capt & wk), 5 JP Duminy, 6 Faf du Plessis, 7 Ryan McLaren, 8 Wayne Parnell, 9 Robin Peterson, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Morne Morkel
Pitch and conditions
It would be good to see a one-day pitch with some pace and bounce to encourage stroke play. Now that September has arrived the start time to day games is a little earlier which may encourage some movement for the pace bowlers, but Lord's is usually pretty flat. The forecast is for an overcast, but dry, day.
Stats and trivia
Morne Morkel needs three wickets to reach 100 in ODIs
England have won the two previous ODIs at Lord's against South Africa, both by seven wickets, in 2003 and 2008. James Anderson and Graeme Smith played in the 2003 match which was the NatWest Series final.
Eoin Morgan, Man of the Match at The Oval, averages 47.90 in run chases for England and 64.84 in matches they have won.
Quotes
"He was really good. He's a wicket-taker, and he came in and got them at crucial times. All our bowlers did well, but especially him. He took two important wickets before the batting Powerplay."
Alastair Cook praises the performance of Jade Dernbach on his return
"From the word go we didn't make it count with the bat and we lost momentum early in the game. The bowlers were up for it and we still believed we could win but we just needed that extra 30 runs."
AB de Villiers bemoans his team's batting effort at The Oval
England 212 for 6 (Morgan 73, Trott 71) beat South Africa 211 (Amla 43, Elgar 42, Anderson 4-44, Dernbach 3-44) by four wickets
Eoin Morgan swore allegiance to England's Test team this week ahead of all other temptations. In the current climate he would be foolish to suggest anything else. There may be suitors from the IPL who do not entirely believe it and their appetite to find out more will only have been whetted by his dashing intervention at The Oval which took England back to the top of the ODI rankings.
England beat South Africa for the first time this summer as their four-wicket victory with two overs to spare levelled the series at 1-1 with two to play. They also reclaimed the title of the No. 1 one-day side in the world, although this accolade could be short-lived. South Africa's reign lasted three days and they may reign again by Sunday evening. Fortunately, the players keep these things in perspective. Some of the more rabid fans would be well advised to follow suit or their emotional highs and lows may prove terminal.
Morgan made 73 from 67 balls, but he had a rock to lean on: Jonathan Trott, met by a target well within his comfort zone and bent upon batting through the innings. When the game was in the balance, at 64 for 3 in the 18th over, it would have been a toss-up which batsman South Africa most wished to dismiss next. Morgan could fearlessly slash and burn but Trott was the smouldering menace.
By the time they removed either of them - Morgan offering a return catch to Robin Peterson, aiming over midwicket - England's alliance of opposites had garnered 108 in 20 overs and the match was almost spent. The only surprise was that Trott did not see it through. He was out with England five runs short, 71 from 125 balls, as Wayne Parnell had him caught at the wicket. Parnell completed a niggardly spell but for Dale Steyn, back in the side, the pitch offered little encouragement.
England's chase had never looked entirely comfortable against a persistent attack and on a low, holding surface. But Trott created order out of discomfort; approaching his task like a librarian, ticking off every ball and stacking it neatly in alphabetical order. South Africa, probably 30 runs shy, could do little about it. "We were hoping for 250-odd," said AB de Villiers, South Africa's captain. "Most of the senior players got in and got out. That was the big sin."
Ravi Bopara was not so composed. He left to the sound of booing from the crowd, adjudged by umpire Kumar Dharmasena to be caught at the wicket for nought off Morne Morkel. He immediately turned to the DRS and the crowd only witnessed the fact that Hot Spot showed no edge. But the sound as the ball passed the bat was clearly audible - convincingly so - and the third umpire, Simon Taufel, correctly concluded that he had no clear evidence to overturn the on-field umpire's decision.
Bopara had bowled his bothersome medium pace skilfully in South Africa's innings, conceding only 31 runs and claiming the wicket of Faf du Plessis in only his second completed bowling stint for England, following a full shift against Bangladesh at Edgbaston two years ago.
It has been a fraught period for Bopara, his cricketing summer affected by domestic issues, and this will have helped to persuade him that much of his England career, especially at one-day level, remains ahead of him, but his pressing need in the last two matches is runs.
Until Morgan shook the duvet, the cautious nature of England's reply was summed up in the dismissal of Alastair Cook, who reached 20 from 47 balls when he pulled Peterson gently to deep midwicket, an nondescript delivery but a wicket achieved through a gradual build up of pressure.
South Africa had to put in a workmanlike performance to post anything like a competitive total. Jade Dernbach held them back. His opportunities for England in limited-overs cricket this summer have extended no further than south London, but the moment he dismissed Hashim Amla, England's scourge all season, ensured him of an influential day. South Africa's last eight wickets slipped away for 91. England were sharper than they had been at the Ageas Bowl.
Fresh from his 150 in the second ODI in Southampton, Amla made unflustered progress to 43 from 51 balls before Dernbach took advantage of limited footwork in his first over to bowl him between bat and pad. Until then, he had batted with tranquillity and purpose, his runs advance unnoticed like a night-time tide. One whip behind square against James Anderson was so wristy that you could swear he played it with the back of the bat.
Dernbach, whose only other one-day appearance came against Australia , also on his home ground, was given an opportunity after England left out Tim Bresnan and overlooked the man who might have been viewed as his most like-for-like replacement, Chris Woakes. Dernbach has twice the forearms - as muscular and tattooed as a coal miner - but he is not twice the cricketer.
Away from The Oval, it would have been a debatable choice. But on this slow surface he was in his element. He dismissed Dean Elgar for 42, an innings that never really took shape, with a delivery bowled out of the back of the hand leaving the batsman motionless and bowling him through the gate. He later had Parnell caught at the wicket in an over when the batsman had twice nicked him for boundaries through the vacant slip cordon.
As the ball softened, South Africa laboured. Six players in all were bowled, emphasising that this was a pitch that rewarded a wicket-to-wicket attack. JP Duminy held things together until he fell at long off as he went big against the offspin of James Tredwell, who had also accounted for de Villiers as he sought out his favourite flick to deep midwicket.
With Parnell on the card at No. 7, recovery was always liable to be painstaking for South Africa and they never broke free, Anderson wrapping up the innings with the last three wickets in seven balls to leave 20 deliveries unused.
Like Idi Amin declaring himself the winner of a general election, so England's return to the top of the ODI rankings should be viewed with a certain cynicism.
While any victory over a decent South Africa side is to be praised, particularly a victory that showed such an improvement on the dismal performance in Southampton, the ranking flatters and misleads. England have a long way to go as an ODI side.
In truth, this ODI series - like so many - is about building for the future. ODI teams are not judged on rankings, particularly ones that appear quite so arbitrary. No, ODI teams are judged on trophies. Global trophies, at that: World Cups and, to a lesser extent, the Champions Trophy. Whatever happens in the next week or so, whichever team wins this series, few will remember by the time the 2015 World Cup comes along.
But England can take encouragement from this performance. As both these teams build for the future, they are developing new players and testing their bench strength. For that reason, a strong argument could be made to suggest that England have the better prospects ahead of next year's Champions Trophy, which is to be played in the UK.
In this game, South Africa looked a batsman light. With Hashim Amla, Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers all, for once, departing to somewhat loose strokes, a thin-looking middle order was exposed. While the jury remains out on Dean Elgar - it is bound to take him some time to settle at international level - Faf du Plessis and Wayne Parnell, at No. 5 and No. 7 respectively, both look at least a place too high in the order.
While many of South Africa's problems would be resolved in a stroke by the return of Jacques Kallis -he strengthens the batting, the bowling and the fielding - he is now 36. Even though he harbours ambitions to play in the 2015 World Cup, South Africa do need to start to look to the future. Replacing him will prove desperately difficult.
"We didn't play good cricket at all," de Villiers said afterwards. "Most of our senior players got in and didn't make it count. Including me. I was seeing it really well, but played a poor shot at a very bad time. It is those things that cost you the game.
"We were about 40 runs short. It was the experienced players at fault. We were hoping for 250 at least and hopefully aim for 270. That would have been a winning score. Complacency wasn't an issue. I wouldn't allow that as a captain. We just didn't play well at all."
The performance of Wayne Parnell, who bowled with controlled pace, should provide some encouragement for South Africa. After a few bumps on the road, the 23-year-old looks to be developing into the top-class performer his talent first suggested.
England, meanwhile, went into this game without three men who might be considered first-choice selections: Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann and Kevin Pietersen. While there is no certainty about the future of any of them, there is growing hope that all should be around in 2013 and 2015. Swann does not require an elbow operation, while Pietersen will meet with ECB officials in the very near future to thrash out their difficulties. A sincere, unqualified apology made face-to-face with colleagues in the squad and the management set-up would take him a long way along the path to rehabilitation. If he really wants to return, it is the option he must take.
The pleasing thing about this display from an England perspective was that their stand-ins performed so impressively. James Tredwell, bowling with flight and dip that Swann has struggled to find of late, hardly delivered a poor ball, while Jade Dernbach utilised his variations far more judiciously than has sometimes been the case. It hints at a growing maturity. The lovely slower ball, all the more effective for being used sparingly, with which he dismissed Elgar was the delivery of the match.
"We bowled better, we batted better and we fielded better than we did in Southampton," Alastair Cook said. "It's encouraging when we can right wrongs. Swann was fit to play, but it's really nice when you have guys as solid as Tredwell to come into the side."
England's reply was built around two contrasting innings by Jonathan Trott and Eoin Morgan. Trott, all quiet accumulation, and Morgan, full of invention and aggression, complemented each other perfectly and underlined the impression that England are building a team that can adapt and challenge. If Pietersen and Morgan can be reunited in the middle-order, they will prove a potent problem for any bowling attack.
Despite the mountain of evidence to the contrary, some will never accept Trott as a limited-overs batsman. But whatever his perceived issues on the flattest of wickets, there is probably no-one in world cricket who manages the overhauling of a modest target with as much certainty. He may well be the most reassuring batsmen England have had since the retirement of Graham Gooch. Morgan, in this form, looks irrepressible. Quite why he cannot convert such talent to first-class cricket - he averages under 20 in this year's County Championship - is hard to fathom.
"We have guys with various attributes who contribute to different ways of winning a game," Morgan said. "Trotty anchored the innings very well and I played the way I do. It worked out very well. I've worked hard and I've been hitting the ball well all summer."
Perhaps, had Trott played-on off Dale Steyn when he had scored 6, the result may have been different. But there is not a huge amount to choose between these teams and, as both teams look into the longer-term future, perhaps it is England who can be the slightly more optimistic.
LONDON: Half-centuries from Eoin Morgan and Jonathan Trott steered England to a series-levelling victory over South Africa in the third one-day international at The Oval on Friday.
The home team, chasing 212 to win, got home with four wickets and 12 balls to spare after Morgan bludgeoned his way to 73 and Trott sc
ored a painstaking 71.
Earlier, South Africa were bowled out for 211 in 46.4 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat.
Openers Hashim Amla (43) and Graeme Smith (18) put on 50 for the first wicket but England slowly whittled their way through the batting order.
James Anderson led the way with four for 44 while fellow paceman Jade Dernbach picked up three for 44.
Dean Elgar made 42 for South Africa and JP Duminy chipped in with 33.
The visitors then reduced England to 64 for three in reply, captain Alastair Cook falling for 20, fellow opener Ian Bell for 12 and Ravi Bopara for a duck.
Trott and Morgan then combined for a match-winning stand of 108 for the fourth wicket.
Morgan lashed 73 in 67 balls with seven fours and two sixes while Trott dropped anchor, compiling 71 in 125 deliveries.
After the pair fell in quick succession, it was left to Samit Patel to guide England home with an unbeaten 13.
South Africa had won the second game in the five-match series after the opening encounter was washed out by rain.
The fourth match is at Lord's on Sunday. (Reuters)
The home team, chasing 212 to win, got home with four wickets and 12 balls to spare after Morgan bludgeoned his way to 73 and Trott sc
ored a painstaking 71.
Earlier, South Africa were bowled out for 211 in 46.4 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat.
Openers Hashim Amla (43) and Graeme Smith (18) put on 50 for the first wicket but England slowly whittled their way through the batting order.
James Anderson led the way with four for 44 while fellow paceman Jade Dernbach picked up three for 44.
Dean Elgar made 42 for South Africa and JP Duminy chipped in with 33.
The visitors then reduced England to 64 for three in reply, captain Alastair Cook falling for 20, fellow opener Ian Bell for 12 and Ravi Bopara for a duck.
Trott and Morgan then combined for a match-winning stand of 108 for the fourth wicket.
Morgan lashed 73 in 67 balls with seven fours and two sixes while Trott dropped anchor, compiling 71 in 125 deliveries.
After the pair fell in quick succession, it was left to Samit Patel to guide England home with an unbeaten 13.
South Africa had won the second game in the five-match series after the opening encounter was washed out by rain.
The fourth match is at Lord's on Sunday. (Reuters)
Pakistan v England
ICC Combined XI v England XI, Dubai, 1st day
Stuart Broad, the England fast bowler, has said he's satisfied with how his shoulder held up after his first day of competitive cricket in four months. Broad took three wickets in his first three overs against a ICC Combined Associate and Affiliate XI on the opening day of their first warm-up match in Dubai.
The injury had forced Broad to miss the limited-overs tour of India last year, and came soon after his Man-of-the-Series performance in the home Test series against them in the summer. "The shoulder seems fine, I think it was mid-November by the time it completely healed," he said after the first day's play in Dubai. "It seems to be back really stronger than it was before, that's pleasing."
The ICC XI hit back after the early losses, and tested the England bowlers almost until the close of play. From 90 for 6, half-centuries from Afghanistan's Mohammad Shahzad and Namibia's Christi Viljoen lifted the ICC XI to 281.
Broad felt the hard work would help the bowling line-up during the Tests against Pakistan. "The conditions have been great, because I think they are similar to what we will face in the Test matches," he said. "It is going to be crucial for us in the Test match series to use the new ball and the second new ball wisely.
"That period, from overs 50 to 80, is going to be a real holding role. We are not going to be able to burst through because the wickets are not going to be suited to that."
Over the past two years in the UAE, teams have run up ten Test totals in excess of 300, and only been bowled out four times below that score. Broad expected the Pakistan series also to be similar, with a tough grind awaiting the bowlers. "It will be attritional cricket, going at two-and-a-half or three runs an over, fielding for long periods of time, trying to bowl teams out for 300 to 350 and probably fielding for 120 overs. It will be old school Test cricket, I suppose."
After the current three-day game, England have another one against a Pakistan Cricket Board XI before the first Test starting on January 17.
Ben Smith, the former Worcestershire and Leicestershire batsman, has returned to where his career began after taking the role of batting coach at Grace Road where he started as a player in 1990.Smith, 39, won two Championship titles with Leicestershire in 1996 and 1998 and scored 8,606 first-class runs before his departure to Worcestershire. He succeeded Graeme Hick as captain at New Road in 2003 and scored a further 8,530 first-class runs before retiring in 2010.
"I am delighted to take this opportunity and to be involved with the ongoing development of a very talented group of players," said Smith. "I have very fond memories of playing cricket at Grace Road so to be able to give something back to the club is very exciting.
"I would like to thank Worcestershire for their support over the last ten years, firstly as a player and then guiding me into a coaching career," he added. "Worcestershire is a very special club and I am certain it always will be. I am incredibly proud to have represented the club and being part of its history."
The job of Leicestershire batting coach was originally on offer to Paul Nixon but he turned down the role to try and secure a job at the IPL.
The Leicestershire head coach Phil Whitticase said: "I'm really pleased to have Ben on board. He brings enthusiasm, innovation and experience to the coaching team and I look forward to working with him."
Ben Stokes, the England and Durham allrounder, will be out of cricket for around six months after undergoing surgery on his right index finger in the USA. He is expected to return to action for the start of the 2012 County Championship season.Stokes had picked up a complex fracture dislocation in his finger during a County Championship match between Durham and Lancashire in May and had undergone surgery then, but his finger failed to heal completely despite extensive rehabilitation and he was unable to resume bowling. In the meantime, he made his England debut, in an ODI against Ireland in August, and played four matches during the home one-day series against India. He was left out of the squad for the tour of India so that he could undergo the surgery, and will now be out for six months.
The initial healing phase following the operation will be approximately three months and then there will be a further three months of graded recovery and rehabilitation. The lay-off means Stokes will miss England's series against Pakistan in the UAE early next year.
"My priority now will be to work hard on my rehabilitation over the next six months," Stokes said. "I want to make sure I am fully fit and available to start next season."
Matt Prior will be staying on at Sussex at least until the end of the 2013 season, after signing a new two-year deal with the club.
Prior, 29, made his first-class debut for Sussex a decade ago in 2001, before being awarded his county cap in 2003. He went on to make his England Test debut in 2007 against West Indies at Lord's.
Sussex County Cricket Club
He has made over 10,000 first-class runs and while England duties have taken him away from Hove of late, he made an unbeaten 97 against Hampshire to seal victory in the County Championship this season, while he also hit 89 off only 59 balls in the Friends Life t20 victory at Kent.
After signing a new deal, Prior said, "It's a great honour to sign another contract for Sussex. I've been at the club as a professional for eleven years now and it is very close to my heart.
"The support over the years from the fans and members alike has been very special, and the players and management are always striving for more success which I can hopefully be a big part of."
Mark Robinson, Sussex's Professional Cricket Manager said, "To have the best wicketkeeper-batsman in the world committed to us for the next two years is fantastic for the club. Matt nowadays doesn't just bring his performance when he comes back to play for us, but a wealth of experience and desire for himself and those around him to succeed."
India v England, only Twenty20, Kolkata
Kevin Pietersen, the England batsman, has been officially reprimanded for a Level 1 breach of the ICC code of conduct during the Kolkata Twenty20 game against India on October 29. Pietersen was found to have breached Article 2.1.3 of the code which relates to "showing dissent at an umpire's decision during an international match".
The charge was laid by on-field umpires Sudhir Asnani and S Ravi, third umpire Vineet Kulkarni and fourth umpire K Srinath. The offence occurred following Pietersen's dismissal, when he was ruled out lbw off Suresh Raina's bowling. By then, England were cruising towards victory on the back of Pietersen's brisk half-century.
Pietersen pleaded guilty to the charge and, under the provisions of the code, the matter was determined by the match referee Roshan Mahanama and so there was no requirement for a full hearing.
"As an experienced cricketer, Kevin should know that when the umpire raises his finger, a player should leave the crease without showing his emotions no matter what he may think of the decision," Mahanama said. "In this case, Kevin displayed excessive and obvious disappointment at the decision which sent the wrong signals to all those watching the match at the ground and on television, and as such merited some form of action."
Jamie Dalrymple's return to Middlesex has proved short-lived as he and the county have chosen to part ways.
Dalrymple had re-signed for Middlesex in May this year and made a steady contribution to their success in Division Two of the County Championship with both bat and ball, but became frustrated by the lack of leadership opportunities with the county and has decided to move on.
"I have seen very few cricketers more committed or harder working than Jamie and during his time with Middlesex he set the right example to the rest of the squad," said Managing Director of Cricket, Angus Fraser. "His leadership experience was valuable too, helping to get a young side over the line when things got a little tight at the end of the season.
"However, his passion lies in leadership and man management roles and these are not positions that are currently available at Middlesex. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Jamie for all his input into Middlesex over the course of ten seasons in total and to wish him well for the future whether that is in the game or elsewhere."
Dalrymple's return to Middlesex had been prompted by his departure from Glamorgan, to whom he had gone after turning down a new contract with Middlesex in late 2007. He was appointed as Glamorgan's captain for the 2009 season, but after two seasons became a high-profile casualty of a tumultous shake-up at the county. Stripped of the captaincy - with the position going to South African Alviro Petersen - Dalrymple promptly left and returned to Lord's.
"I'd like to thank Middlesex and Angus Fraser for the opportunity to return to play this season after the difficulties I had last winter," said Dalrymple. "Furthermore, I'd like to say how much I enjoyed playing and working with the squad, both young and old, and particularly contributing to a Middlesex team that gained promotion from Division Two as champions.
"Cricket has been my passion for many years now and my experiences so far have shown me how much I relish the challenges of leadership and management. Unfortunately that opportunity is unavailable at this time. I now have a chance to consider whether I want to keep playing, to look for a leadership role within the game or to move on to something completely different."
While Middlesex may miss Dalrymple's steadying influence in the middle order, his offspinning role could be filled by allrounder Ollie Rayner, who has joined Middlesex in a permanent deal following his two loan spells at Lord's during the summer.
The 25 year-old, who signed for Sussex in late 2005, went on to play 43 first-class matches in all for Sussex in his six seasons at Hove, taking 95 wickets and scoring over 1000 runs in the process.
"We are all sorry to see Ollie leave as he has been a part of the club since an early age, but we recognise his desire to play more cricket in all forms of the game," said Sussex's Professional Cricket Manager Mark Robinson. "We'd like to take this opportunity to thank him for all his hard work during his time at the club and we wish him all the best at Middlesex".
England in India 2011-12
England limited-overs wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter has insisted that the emergence of young talent in the
England set-up has spurred him on to solidify his position with the gloves. Both Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow have potential as wicketkeeper-batsmen but Kieswetter is hoping to use the India series to ease the pressure on his place with consistent performances.
"There's obviously a lot of young wicketkeepers," said Kieswetter. "Johnny Bairstow has come through, and has sent a message. It pushed me to train harder, get better and put up some more consistent performances."
England arrived in India a full 10 days ahead of the start of their one-day series, although Kieswetter has only recently linked up with the squad after completing his duties with Somerset at the Champions League T20. He suggested his time with the county in India, which included a load-bearing half-century in the 12-run win over Warriors in Bangalore, had provided good preparation for the task of opening the batting in ODIs, despite the differences in format.
"I feel fighting fit this time of year," he said. "Bit of a late arrival, playing with Somerset in the Champions League, but there is no better preparation than playing out in the middle. I'm feeling really good. Being in the middle is great preparation. The tempo may have been a little different, but there is no better method than being out there, playing cricket in match environment."
Kieswetter was recalled to England's squad ahead of the ODIs against Sri Lanka at home this summer, after returns of 121 runs in eight innings against Australia and Bangladesh had brought the axe, first from the one-day team and then from the Twenty20 side.
He had burst onto the international scene on the tour of Bangladesh last winter, after being plucked from the Lions team that played England in UAE before that trip. He scored a hundred in his third ODI and then formed a hard-hitting opening partnership with Michael Lumb at the World Twenty20. Their rapid starts were key to England winning the title and Kieswetter was Man of the Match in the final against Australia. He is hoping to build on these early successes now that he's been handed a second extended run in the side.
"I was in the side, out again, back again. I learned a lot while I was out. Being back in the side is great. It's where I want to be, where I want to belong. Obviously I want to play on the world stage.
"My performances have been better, a bit tighter probably. Hopefully I can confirm that spot in the next five ODIs. Every game I play for England I want to do the best I can. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but there is no lack of effort."
Kieswetter will continue to share a dressing room with Buttler, his team-mate at Somerset who, although only officially part of England's Twenty20 squad, will nevertheless remain with the team during the one-day series, having stayed in India after Somerset flew home.
"For any player to be involved in the set-up at the moment, with how the squad is and how the side are performing, is a fantastic learning experience," Kieswetter said of Buttler's involvement. "I am sure he will learn a lot and will be ready for the Twenty20."
Buttler was responsible for a minor injury scare, however, as a fierce straight drive during Somerset's semi-final against Mumbai Indians smacked into the non-striker Kieswetter's forearm. The injury has since been assessed, and Kieswetter dismissed it as nothing more than a bruise.
"It's just a bruise, should be fine," he said. "Jos is quite a bottom-handed player, he usually mows it through midwicket. Straight on I thought was safest place to stand. But I was proved wrong."
Graeme Swann believes Kevin Pietersen is not a natural captain and has claimed the batsman was never the right
man to lead England. Swann, who captained England himself in the Twenty20s against West Indies last month, suggested that Andrew Strauss's calm leadership style has been central to England's success.
Pietersen was named England captain in August 2008, but his tenure lasted just five months after a much-publicised spat with then-coach Peter Moores. Strauss then took up the role and his harmonious partnership with Andy Flower has seen England crowned the world's No. 1 Test team.
In his new book, The Breaks are Off, Swann claims Pietersen does not command respect in the same way as the more reserved Strauss.
"There is no doubt that Kev is a good player, a really fine batsman, but he was never the right man to captain England in my opinion," Swann said. "Some people are better leaders of men, and Kev, for all his abundant talent is not one of those natural leaders.
"I wouldn't say he was a useless captain, but he wasn't my sort of captain, and we've ended up with the right man. I can't really work out why Strauss demands respect, but he does. I've known him for a long time but there is a line I won't cross with him that I will cross with anyone else. It's the sign of a good leader. I'm in awe of the way he speaks.
"He always seems to press the right buttons with me and says exactly what I'm thinking. He's to the point and meaningful and I'd be really upset with myself if he ever felt it necessary to dress me down."
In the absence of injured captain Stuart Broad, Swann was handed the chance to captain England for the Twenty20 internationals against West Indies. While he may have a reputation as a joker, the spinner insisted he enjoyed the responsibility of captaincy.
"It was nice to shape a game," Swann told Cricket Super News. "I've said before that I've captained in my head every game I've ever played before but this was different. I enjoyed the responsibility of making decisions. It pandered to my enjoyment of being the centre of attention, too."
Swann insisted, however, that he holds no real captaincy aspirations of his own, and that the current men in charge have what it takes to do the job well. "Broady will mature into a very good captain; Cookie's doing a great job, and having expressed my man-love for Strauss throughout my book, you'll know that I hold him in the highest regard. It would be a brave man to suggest he should not be captain of England for a good while yet."
England in India 2011
After a couple of important innings for England during their home ODI series against India, Ravi Bopara started the
tour of India with a score of 73 against Hyderabad, which was crucial to the England XI winning the game. However, Bopara, who has been in and out of the England side during his career, is not taking anything for granted.
"It's a cut-throat business," he said. "You've just got to keep playing well whenever things are in your favour, and make sure you nail it."
England dominated India at home, winning the Test series 4-0 and the five-match ODI series 3-0, but the challenge for them will be to adapt to conditions in the subcontinent, where they struggled during the World Cup. Bopara said singles would be important since sometimes it was difficult to go through with your shots on Indian pitches.
"You've always got to look for boundaries; you've got to keep hitting the ball very hard. But it is a lot more difficult in India because you do know that if the pitch is not playing quite right you can't go through with all your shots. There is the worry of chipping it to the infield.
"You've got to have that in mind. You don't then hit the ball quite as hard or freely as you would like to. On those sorts of pitches, the singles do become very important - you don't want to be tied up with too many dot balls and put yourself under pressure, and have to look for a big shot on a pitch that is not quite suited to the batters."
England's batsmen had a tough time of it against Hyderabad, losing four wickets in the first 15 overs before Bopara and Chris Woakes took them to a score of 219. "It was a little bit of a difficult pitch, especially up front," Bopara said. "With the new ball, it was quite tough. But once the ball got older, it got better.
"It was hard to get the ball away, and quite a soft outfield. It was one of those where we thought we should be scoring a lot quicker, but in reality I thought 240 would have been a good score, and as it proved 220 was a good score."
Bopara recently put in a surprising performance with the ball, taking 4 for 10 to help England beat West Indies in a Twenty20 international at The Oval. He said he expected his bowling to be called upon against India as well.
"I think it's important for me to get my bowling right on this tour. At some stage my bowling is going to be called upon and I'm going to have to do a good job because, as we know, this Indian side have a very, very good batting line-up; they are playing in their own conditions too." He said he hoped to kick on from the positive start to the tour.
Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batsman Craig Kieswetter is set to join England at practice for the first time on October 10, after Somerset were eliminated from the Champions League T20 at the semi-final stage. Kisewetter suffered a bruised arm during the semi-final against Mumbai Indians, when he was struck by a smash down the ground from his batting partner Jos Buttler. England will assess the injury as soon as possible.
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