No excuses if we fail in England: Kirsten

Johannesburg: South African coach Gary Kirsten has said the lack of preparation cannot be blamed if the team doesn`t perform well during their England tour.

The three-Test series starts at the Oval on July 19, and the South Africans have to win if they want to pip England to become the No 1-ranked Test team in the world.

England would have had plenty of practice when the series starts as they are in the middle of their season and currently involved in a series against the West Indies, but the South African team hasn`t played for a long time.

Kirsten believes everyone was aware of the schedule, and this is cannot be adjudged as a valid excuse if they don`t do well.The fixtures are no secret and we have to manage the players in such a way that it`s not a problem," Sports24 quoted Kirsten, as saying.

Kirsten is also not worried about the English conditions presenting his players with any major problems.

"Most of the guys know the conditions. They know what they have to do in order to bat and bowl there," Kirsten said.

However, before the England tour the Proteas will head off to Zimbabwe for an unofficial Twenty20 tri-series against the hosts and Bangladesh, starting on Monday.

BDST: 2017 HRS, June 16, 2012
Edited by
Chanchal Ghosh, Newsroom Editor