Prince happy with form

Proteas limber up for first Test with a fine showing against Middlesex

Last updated: 5th July 2008

Prince happy with form

Prince: Fine form

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South African batsman Ashwell Prince is pleased with his new style of play and believes it will stand him in good stead for the forthcoming Test series against England.

The middle order left-hander is reaping the rewards of a more aggressive approach to his work, scoring an unbeaten 104 at stumps on Friday in his side's 339 for four against Middlesex at Uxbridge.

His innings included 12 fours and a six from 178 balls as he shared a fourth-wicket stand of 190 with Hashim Amla, who himself scored 161.

More aggressive

Welcoming his rich vein of form as the Proteas get set for next week's first Test at Lord's, Prince said: "I'm trying to be a little bit more aggressive with my game. When an opportunity presents itself I'm trying to capitalise on it.

"But I always try to play the situation of the game; if we are in a good one, I'll try and play with more freedom; if we need to get stuck in and have lost a few more wickets, it obviously calls for a different type of innings.

"The situation of the game dictates most of the time how I approach the innings."

While Prince and Amla plundered runs, South African captain Graeme Smith took 77 balls for his 35 at Uxbridge in his only innings of the summer after injuring his hamstring in the Indian Premier League.

But Prince believes Smith will do himself justice in the first Test at Lord's, where he made 259 in an innings victory on his team's last tour five years ago.

Hard work

Prince added: "Graeme has been injured over the last few weeks - and he has put in a lot of hard work to be fit for that first Test.

"It means a lot to him and to all of us. We're really looking forward to it and hoping we can continue our form at Lord's."

He believes time in the middle against Middlesex will have helped the captain, saying: "He batted for more than two hours out there, and the ball did go around a little bit early on.

"He hasn't batted for a while. But those two hours - and some more in the second innings, we hope - I'm sure that will be enough time in terms of preparation for the Test.

"It's much better to get time in the middle than in the nets - and I'm sure he'd like to have another go in the second innings."