Graeme Smith has highlighted England's "unpredictability" as their major strength.
The Proteas captain described the five-match one-day series against England, that starts at the Wanderers next Friday, as his side's first major challenge of the season and indicated that the re-building phase that Andrew Strauss's side were undergoing made them a dangerous prospect.
"There is some unpredictability about them, they've got some new faces around," Smith said about the England team, who have beaten South Africa in five of the last six one-day internationals.
"Their unpredictability is their strength," Smith added. "They've got an experienced middle order, with guys like Paul Collingwood who've been around for a long time now and read the game really well."
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| 'An improved performance is necessary to allay fears ahead of the series with England' |
Much like South Africa, who have brought some new faces into their squad as part of their building process for the 2011 World Cup, England too have made changes to their one-day side. Joe Denly, Jonathon Trott, Eoin Morgan, Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen are an effervescent group who will trouble the South African bowlers.
Some of South Africa's new and restored brigade were in action in a below par performance against Zimbabwe in Benoni on Sunday. Alviro Petersen was steady without being domineering in his new spot in the middle order. Critically though, he held the innings together at a time when the home-side's batsmen were struggling against the Zimbabwean spinners, Ray Price and Graeme Cremer. When the time came to attack late in the innings, Petersen turned the strike over to Albie Morkel who, in typically bruising fashion, smashed a half-century that gave the final total some weight.
It was a good thing he did too because South Africa's bowling was flat. An improved performance is necessary to allay fears ahead of the series with England. The tourists were impressive again on Sunday with the top order, led by Strauss's unbeaten 117 and Denley's bustling 82, paving the way to an eight-wicket win with 55 balls remaining over the Warriors.
In explaining England's strengths, Smith also expressed his respect for their bowling attack especially spinner Graeme Swann, who claimed 3/26 from 10 overs in Kimberley yesterday.
"Their bowling attack gives them a lot of different options: Stuart Broad is tall gets bounce, they've got swing options with Jimmy Anderson, and Swann has proved to be a successful campaigner with the ball."
| 'Their bowling attack gives them a lot of different options' |
South Africa are expected to welcome back Jacques Kallis and JP Duminy, who sat out Sunday's match as a precaution following minor ailments.
- This article was originally published on page 28 of The Star on November 09, 2009
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