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Proteas facing a big switch
30/04/2008 22:38 - (SA)
Altus Momberg , Die Burger
Cape Town - The Proteas will have little time to switch from Twenty20 mode to traditional first-class cricket when they arrive in England at the end of June.
Most members of the South African side will see a lot of action in the Indian Premier League before they undertake a demanding tour.
Their English opponents, meanwhile, will prepare for the battle by playing New Zealand in three Test matches and five one-day internationals.
Graeme Smith's Proteas will face England in four Test matches, five ODIs and two Twenty20 encounters.
With the Indian League finishing only on June 1, the Proteas who are involved will have only a couple of weeks to rest before they assemble for a training camp in Durban.
The SA administrators are not overly concerned about the situation. Assistant coach Vincent Barnes said on Wednesday that was how things were in modern cricket.
"One plays so much cricket these days that you don't have time for a number of practice matches as it used to be," Barnes said.
The Proteas will play in only two three-day warm-up matches, against Somerset and Middlesex, before they take on England in the first Test.
Have to get used to the wickets
Barnes believes it is easier to get accustomed to conditions in England than to those on the subcontinent.
"You still have to get used to the wickets, but at least the climate is not such a problem as it is on the subcontinent. One can acclimatise quickly."
Only four players who were in South Africa's team for the last Test of the recent series against India are not involved in the Indian Premier League.
Hashim Amla, Neil McKenzie and Paul Harris were not invited and Morné Morkel signed a contract to play for Yorkshire before he received an offer from India. He made his county debut on Wednesday.
That McKenzie, who is with Durham, and Morkel are playing country cricket before the tour could be a boost for the Proteas. They will certainly be well acclimatised by the time the first Test starts.
However, Barnes admitted that members of the team's management were concerned that Morkel may play too much cricket during the next two months.
"We can't afford to have Morné injured during a series of four-day matches to be played in a short time," he said.
- Die Burger
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