SA keen to tell different tale

SA keen to tell different tale
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

nairobi, october 9: Shaun Pollock is confident his side will have a different story to tell from their reputation of being slow starters when South Africa take on England in the fourth quarter-final of the ICC Knock-out cricket tournament here on Tuesday.

South Africa have lost their opening matches in the last five tournaments since the World Cup but Pollock realises there is no second coming in this sudden death format of cricket.

South Africa is also aware how even a little complacency could send a team packing as it happened to Australia against India.Hence they had two fierce practice sessions since Sunday. The team practiced for nearly four hours on Monday in order to ensure they end up on the winning side on Tuesday.

``We seem to have become slow out of the blocks in One-Day tournaments recently,'' said coach Graham Ford. ``We obviously can't afford that when we play England. There are no second chances in this tournament.''So far it has been a batsman's pitch with neither fast bowlers nor the spinners being able to derive any assistance from it.

With the pitch likely to behave in the same manner, it is bad news for 31-year-old Shafiek Abrahams, who is hoping to make his debut for South Africa.

However, Pollock confirmed that left-arm spinner Nicky Boje would be in the starting line-up.

With the only notable spinner in English side Ashl Eyles sitting out after a calf-muscle injury, England would also have to depend on an all-seamer attack.

Graeme Hick and Vikram Solanki, who replaced Nick Knight in this tournament, can also roll over their wrists, but it remains to be seen whether their services would be required considering Hick was treated with scant respect in their opening match against Bangladesh.

Instead, Craig White, who began as a spinner but transformed into a good fast bowler, might be able to deliver the goods for England.

England have a formidable batting line-up with Marcus Trescothick, Nasser Hussain and Alec Stewart in crackling form. Stewart indeed has been Man-of-the-Match for England in three of their previous four games.The winners of tomorrow's game will play India in the second semi-finals on Friday.

The Teams: ENGLAND (from): Nasser Hussain (Capt), Alec Stewart, Marcus Trescothick, Graeme Hick, Graham Thorpe, Andy Flintoff, Mark Ealham, Vikram Solanki, Andy Giles, Darren Gough, Craig White, Andy Caddick, Mathew Hoggard and Mark Alleyne. SOUTH AFRICA (from): Shaun Pollock (Capt), Gary Kirsten, Andrew Hall, Neil McKenzie, Jacques Kallis, Jonty Rhodes, Mark Boucher, Nicky Boje, Lance Klusener, Allan Donald, Roger Telachmus, Shafiek Abrahams, Boeta Dippenaar and Makhaya Ntni. Umpires: S Venkatraghavan and Darrel Hair.