Arthur - We're ready to go
Coach happy with preparation for series opener
Last updated: 6th July 2008
Arthur: happy with first Test preparations
We just want to get cracking now.
Mickey Arthur
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Mickey Arthur told Sky Sports News that South Africa are fully prepared and 'champing at the bit' for the first Test against England, which starts at Lord's on July 10.
The Proteas coach is unconcerned about the tourists' lack of match practice having played just five days of cricket since arriving in the country.
A high-scoring draw against Somerset was followed by another stalemate with Middlesex, the third day of which was lost to the weather.
"I think we got exactly what we wanted form this game and it just gives the boys another free day ahead of the first Test," Arthur told Sky Sports News on Sunday after the abandonment of the final day at Uxbridge.
"If you take Taunton and what we did yesterday then we've done as much as we need.
Fine balance
"It's a fine balance between protecting the bowlers and under-bowling them - with back-to-back Test matches (Lord's, Jul 10-14 and Headingley, Jul 18-22) you don't want them bowling too many overs.
"I'm comfortable we are in a good place and have prepared well for the series - we just want to get cracking now.
"It's more about making a mental shift now and getting the players ready for the Test matches.
"I don't think we can do anymore technical or physical work, that's already been done, and I know our dressing room is champing at the bit for Thursday."
Striving
South Africa's hopes of a first Test series win in England since their re-admission to the international game are likely to rest on the performance of their much-vaunted pace bowling trio of Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn.
Arthur is confident they can cope with the burden of expectation despite the relative inexperience of Morkel and Steyn, both of whom are touring England for the first time.
"The guys will never be complacent, we've got a young attack striving for good things," added Arthur.
"They want to keep improving. Credit to them for how they've dealt with the media hype - it was the one thing I was slightly worried about was how they would handle the hype - Morkel and Steyn in particular - but they have been fantastic and are two young boys with their feet firmly on the ground.
"Dale has proved over the last year what a quality international performer he is and Morne is going to do that in this series, I'm very confident about that."
Flintoff boost
Arthur was also glad that England omitted Andrew Flintoff from their first-Test squad.
The Lancashire all-rounder, who last played Test cricket in January 2007, recently returned to county action following his latest injury, a side strain.
But the selectors have opted not to recall him yet and look set to stick with the same starting XI that has been on duty in each of the last five Tests, a run that includes four wins and a draw.
"It's difficult to comment without knowing the exact ins-and-outs of his injury," said Arthur of Flintoff.
"He has a huge amount of respect in our dressing room and is a world class player, we'd rather he wasn't playing."
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