By Steve Pass Last updated: 8th July 2008
Snape: Preparing Porteas
South Africa are putting the finishing touches to their preparations for the opening Test with England at Lord's on Thursday.
Jeremy Snape, South Africa Performance Director, is working with the team to make sure they are mentally prepared for the challenge ahead.
The former England all-rounder has a Masters in Sports Psychology and has worked with a variety of national cricket teams.
He is putting that experience to good use with the Proteas.
"It's a big privilege for me having recently retired from playing to be working with such a world-class unit," Snape told Sky Sports, adding: "My performance coaching role is a mixture of psychology, tactics and supporting the management and team players one-on-one really, so obviously it's a huge challenge.
"People have a lot of doubts and ask questions of themselves and get a little bit nervous but really the guys have put all the practise in place, the techniques are in place and it is just about handling whatever opportunities we get to train.
"It might only be for an hour here and there, but really focus when you're in your practises doing the physical stuff but I guess the biggest switch that they will need is the mental switch to the big occasion on Thursday morning."
He added: "I think at this level the guys' bodies are all well primed for the occasion, it is just adapting to the conditions, looking at the specific game plans.. there will be a lot of strategy meetings and analysis.
"The game is moving forward very quickly in that sense and actually allowing the players time to absorb that information and turn it into their own game plans, they can actually role out with their bodies - not just their minds working but their bodies delivering those skills on Thursday."
Asked to sum up the morale and confidence in the side, Snape added: "I think there is a lot of expectation on the boys but that is a good thing because that means they have got talent.
"One thing I have seen is the great mixture of experience and youth in this side and it gels really well together.
"The unit is close together and looking forward to performing together.
"It will be a test for any players so it will be interesting to see how England handle it."
| Fixture |
|---|
| Sunday 5th July |
| Test Match First Test Match |
| Sri Lanka vs Pakistan |
| Friends Provident Friends Provident Semi Final |
| Lancashire vs Hampshire |
| Sussex vs Gloucestershire |
| One Day Int Fourth Match |
| West Indies vs India |
| Women's ODI 4th Match |
| England Women vs Australia Women |
| Monday 6th July |
| U-19 Test Series 1st Match |
| England Under 19 vs Bangladesh Under 19 |
| Tuesday 7th July |
| County Championship - Div 1 |
| Warwickshire vs Sussex |
| County Championship - Div 2 |
| Northamptonshire vs Derbyshire |
| Essex vs Glamorgan |
| One Day Int First Match |
| Scotland vs Canada |
| Result |
|---|
| Saturday 4th July |
| Tour Match |
| England Lions vs Australia Match Drawn |
| Varsity Match |
| Oxford UCCE vs Cambridge UCCE Oxford UCCE won by 6 wickets. |
| Friday 3rd July |
| County Championship - Division One |
| Somerset vs Yorkshire Somerset won by 4 wickets. |
| Nottinghamshire vs Lancashire Match Drawn |
| Durham vs Worcestershire Durham won by 5 wickets. |
| County Championship - Division Two |
| Middlesex vs Surrey Match Drawn |
| Kent vs Gloucestershire Kent won by 76 runs. |
| Derbyshire vs Leicestershire Match Drawn |
| Friendly Match |
| Warwickshire vs England Match Drawn |
| One Day International Series |
| West Indies vs India India won by 6 wickets. (Revised target - Duckworth-Lewis system) |
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