da aposte e ganhe： Robert Key’s fears that his barnstorming innings in England’s tour opener might have been his last meaningful act on this tour gaied ground with the news that Mark Butcher had been preferred for tomorrow’s three-day game against South Africa A at
Andrew Miller in Potchesfroom10-Dec-2004
Mark Butcher: up against the A team© Getty Images
After four days of unrepentantly gloomy conditions in Johannesburg, thesun finally shone on England’s cricketers as they arrived in Potchefstroomahead of tomorrow’s three-day warm-up match against South Africa A. Andthe man with the sunniest disposition of all was Mark Butcher. He enduredan injury-plagued home summer, but is all set to reclaim his No. 3 berthfor next week’s first Test at Port Elizabeth, after being named in aTest-strength XI ahead of his understudy, Robert Key.In truth, it was a no-brainer of a decision for the England management.There is no substitute for experience, and until a series of freak injuries last summer, including a car-crash and a mishap with a cardboard box, Butcher had been one of England’s most consistent performers over the course of three years and 42 consecutive matches. “It was injury that kept Butcher out of the side, not a lack of form,” explained Duncan Fletcher, at a press briefing in Johannesburg, “so he’s got to have some credit in the bank.”Though Key grabbed his opportunity against West Indies last summer, with adouble-century at Lord’s and a matchwinning 93 not out at Old Trafford, he had long been resigned to a place on the bench, even aftertop-scoring with a slap-happy 87 at Randjesfontein on Wednesday. AsFletcher explained, it is rare for South Africa’s confidence to be asshaky as it currently is, and so the onus is on England to hit them ashard as possible come next Friday.For that reason, the raw pace of Simon Jones has once again been preferredto the mercurial talents of James Anderson, who made a rare appearance inthe Test side at The Oval last summer, but is now nursing aslight side strain and remains very much the fifth member of England’sseam attack.Jones, on the other hand, is hovering at something close to his best formaccording to his coach, and is ready to tear in against South Africa A.”Simon’s lines and lengths were outstanding in Zimbabwe,” enthusedFletcher, “although it was important that he held back and didn’t go at ittoo quickly. But now that his confidence levels are up, it’s time for himto up the pace as well.”If it appears that England are peaking at precisely the right time, thesame cannot be said of their opponents. Defeats, disputes and dismissalshave dogged the South African build-up to this series, although Fletcherfully expects their A team to provide proud and tenacious opposition overthe next three days. “There are a few players in that side who want toprove a point,” he warned, “and if they want to play for South Africa,they are bound to be determined opposition.”Few men will have more of a point to prove than South Africa’s deposedwicketkeeper, Mark Boucher. After 75 consecutive Tests, he wasdeemed surplus to requirements for the recent tour of India, and thoughwidely tipped for a recall at Port Elizabeth, he was again omitted infavour of Thami Tsolekile. It was a contentious boardroom issue that costOmar Henry his job as convenor of selectors, and earned the coach RayJennings a rap over the knuckles from the board chairman, Gerald Majola.”With his record against us, we certainly rate Boucher,” admittedFletcher, “although if South Africa’s selectors believe Tsolekile to beeven better, then we certainly can’t afford to be complacent.”For the second match running, England’s opponents will be led by AshwellPrince. He takes over the reins from the injured HD Ackerman, who wasrecently sacked as captain of South Africa’s provincial side, HighveldLions, in a team that also includes the talented 20-year-old strokemaker,JP Duminy, and the opening batsman, Andrew Puttick, who was HerschelleGibbs’s replacement in Sri Lanka earlier this year.But whoever the opposition, England’s attack is fully focussed and readyto hit top gear over the coming three days. “It’s all about buildingmomentum,” added Fletcher. “[Steve] Harmison looked pretty effective inthe Oppenheimer match, and it will just take two or three sessions in thisgame, and they’ll be ready for Port Elizabeth.”England 1 Marcus Trescothick, 2 Andrew Strauss, 3 Mark Butcher, 4Michael Vaughan (capt), 5 Graham Thorpe, 6 Andrew Flintoff, 7 GeraintJones (wk), 8 Ashley Giles, 9 Simon Jones, 10 Matthew Hoggard, 11 SteveHarmison.South Africa A 1 Andrew Puttick, 2 Martin van Jaarsveld, 3 AshwellPrince (capt), 4 JP Duminy, 5 Justin Ontong, 6 Mark Boucher (wk), 7 AlbieMorkel, 8 Alfonso Thomas, 9 Charl Langeveldt, 10 Ethy Mbhalati, 11 CharlWilloughby.Andrew Miller is assistant editor of Cricinfo