Discipline the key for Hussain's men

David Lloyd13 April 2012

The size of the task facing England this winter looks bigger than ever today. But if Nasser Hussain's men rise to it they will be able to thank South Africa for delivering a timely reminder that last summer's triumphs now count for next to nothing.

Defeat by a thoroughly professional South African outfit at the quarter-final stage of the ICC Knock-Out always seemed likely from the moment tournament organisers announced the draw.

Even so, yesterday's eight-wicket result, achieved with nearly 11 overs to spare, was just about as comprehensive a thumping as is possible at this level. England were not merely beaten, they were trounced in every department - and captain Hussain never attempted to pretend otherwise.

Sensible chap that he is, Hussain suggested a month or so ago that "a corner", rather than "the corner", had been turned following home Test series victories against Zimbabwe and the West Indies and a tri-nation success over the same opponents.

How wise his cautious verdict looks at the moment.

South Africa, now driven by a burning desire to atone for the sins of Hansie Cronje, are in a different class to Zimbabwe and the West Indies - and England can expect an equally searching examination from Pakistan once they leave Kenya and arrive on the sub-continent this weekend.

Conditions at home last summer almost always favoured Hussain's seamers and allowed his batsmen to dine out on some relatively modest contributions.

Here, on Nairobi's true and flat pitches, the margin for error is minimal so far as bowlers are concerned while the top order have to not only seize the initiative but also keep it.

It will be a little different in Pakistan, but not much, and England must discover the discipline that was so palpably missing from their game yesterday.

Brilliantly though South Africa's front-line bowlers performed, from the time Shaun Pollock and Roger Telemachus conceded just five runs from eight new-ball overs, five of England's top six batsmen picked out fielders in the deep with a degree of accuracy normally reserved for catching practice sessions.

Then, although defending a wholly inadequate total of 182 was always going to be next to impossible, Andy Caddick and Darren Gough were unable to match the tone-setting sharpness of Pollock and Co.

"It was a very fine performance from South Africa whereas we didn't do quite a few things right," said a grim-faced Hussain as yesterday's winners prepared to meet India in Friday's semi-final while England discussed when to pack up camp and head for Karachi.

"If you don't do the basics right against a classy side then you will lose. We didn't even come second," added Hussain. "Perhaps we aimed a bit high in thinking that 250 was needed. But the way they batted and we bowled then I don't think 230 would have been enough. We certainly were not in the game with 182.

"The South Africans, Pakistanis and Indians are brought up on pitches like this. They know how to bat on them and how to bowl on them. The control and discipline South Africa showed with the ball, the way they batted and fielded, is something we have to learn from this winter. Every game we play we need to learn.

"We need to be boring and consistent when we bowl. Too often in English conditions you just have to run up and let the ball go. But on pitches like this you need to work bloody hard for everything." Hussain is not adverse to wearing his heart on his sleeve when he feels the occasion justifies it - and last night he didn't attempt to conceal his dejection following a performance that was substandard from beginning to end.

But, crucially, Hussain's sense of disappointment has never lingered long since he took over as captain 15 months ago and, by today, he will be determined that his squad heed the lessons of a humbling defeat.

England plan to lick their wounds for 48 hours, then return to the nets - either here until Sunday, if the facilities are available, or in Karachi should they decide to leave for Pakistan ahead of schedule.

Hussain and his men have a fortnight to prepare for the first of three one-day internationals against Pakistan. Long before then they would expect spinner Ashley Giles to be mobile again following a calf strain and all-rounder Andrew Flintoff to have started bowling flat out.

Flintoff can be a key member of the side, provided his back is sufficiently strong to take 10 overs a day.

So far, England have eased their Lancashire all-rounder into this tour. But now they need him, and everyone else on the payroll, fully fit and firing.

Mark Waugh has vowed to defend his place in the Australian team for the Test series against the West Indies, starting next month, by scoring runs for New South Wales.

The 35-year-old batsman arrived back in Sydney from the ICC Cup tournament in Kenya amid calls for selectors to end his international career.

His past nine one-day international innings have yielded just 98 runs, but he said: "I guess I will just have to go out there and make some runs for New South Wales."

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