Graham Thorpe

England can capitalise on SA complacency

Fri Nov 06 04:29PM

Unlike most people, I genuinely think England are more than capable of beating South Africa in the one-day series.

England have always been a confidence side and if the squad can settle quickly then who knows how successful they can be against a South Africa side never lacking in that department.

I think South Africa may well be very complacent going into the one-day international series and the two Twenty20 fixtures; England can capitalise on that.

I predict that England will flourish more in the one-day internationals because South Africa think they are a pushover in that form of the game.

The Tests will be much more arduous and England will find that exceptionally tough in that series.

The one-dayers and Twenty20s therefore represent a terrific opportunity to get the tour off to a positive start.

If you look at the squad it is full of quality and potential, the only question is whether Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower can turn them into a consistent unit.

For England the problem has always been the beginning of the innings: both with the batting and the bowling.

Sluggish starts with the bat fail to utilise the attacking fields set early on, while a lack of breakthroughs with the ball give the opposition a clear run.

James Anderson will be key for taking early wickets with the new ball, while the batsmen need to make a quick impact and hit South Africa from the outset.

As I said in my previous blog, I am thoroughly unconvinced by Alastair Cook in the one-day and Twenty20 formats and he is a real risk for Strauss.

England cannot afford to have someone at the top of the order pottering about and getting a sighter - we have been down that road too many times in the past and it never works.

Selection wise, I would pick Eoin Morgan and Paul Collingwood in the middle order at the expense of Tim Bresnan.

I would also be keen to play both Adil Rashid and Graeme Swann, but clearly the wickets will dictate whether that is possible.

Rashid is a real prospect but needs experience - I say give him his opportunity and see how he responds under real pressure.

I will expand further on selection matters next week, but England need to be brave and play the likes of Morgan and Rashid who offer something a bit special.

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