Arthur eyes Proteas response

Arthur (L) with Morne Morkel

I've been very disappointed by how England have outplayed us in all three disciplines, how we haven't applied the basics enough. That's my major worry, and that is up to us as a coaching staff to get right.

Mickey Arthur
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With the series already lost in resounding style, South Africa coach Mickey Arthur has challenged his players to come out and restore some pride in the fourth one-day international against England at Lord's on Sunday.

South Africa headed into the five-match series with a reputation as one of the powerhouses of the one-day game.

However, with minds seemingly already on the plane home following their historic 2-1 triumph in the Test series, the tourists have been comprehensively outplayed by Kevin Pietersen's England side and are now facing up to the prospect of a 5-0 whitewash having lost the opening three contests - the last two in humiliating fashion.

Arthur, who has lost the services of skipper Graeme Smith, has warned his squad that nobody can now consider their place as safe and is looking for his young players to step up to the mark and demonstrate they can compete with a rampant England outfit.

"It's up to the youngsters in the next two games to stick their hands up and stake a claim," he stated.

"I've got a dressing room that is a little bit down in confidence. But we'll sit down and hammer home the basics again.

"It's up to us to bring those (young) guys forward as quickly as we possibly can and the starting point for me is Lord's.

"That could be the starting point of a new generation for the South African one-day side. That's how we've got to look at it, and how I'm trying to package it.

"I've been very disappointed by how England have outplayed us in all three disciplines, how we haven't applied the basics enough.

"That's my major worry, and that is up to us as a coaching staff to get right. I see that as a major challenge for my management team now.

"If we can see this as a challenge and get the team moving to where we want it, I am really looking forward to the next couple of months.

"Our attack is very inexperienced in terms of one-day cricket, and in some key batting areas we've got a lot of younger players.

"We need to get them out there and expose them. If I have to take a positive out of this, it's asked us all where we want to go as a one-day unit. Guys need to focus on their positions in the one-day team."

Momentum

While Arthur could choose to shuffle his pack as he looks for a reaction at Lord's, Pietersen seems likely to again stick with the side that has performed so admirably thus far.

With Andrew Flintoff seemingly rediscovering something like top form with both bat and ball - demonstrated by his return to the top of the world all-rounder rankings - England appear a more balanced and confident unit and their skipper will be keen to maintain the momentum his arrival as captain has built up.

Pietersen made it clear after wrapping up the series at The Oval on Friday that he wants to complete a whitewash and many will fancy them to get the job done given the gulf between the two sides thus far.