London Jul 8: South African explorer Mike Horn helped India win the cricket World Cup last year. Gary Kirsten has gone back to the adventurer to aid the Proteas' assault on the summit of the test game.
Former India coach Kirsten took his South Africa squad on a team-bonding trip to see Horn in the Swiss Alps before the three-test series against top-ranked England starts this month.
They may be on the rise after another disastrous World Cup, but Kirsten's South Africans still have a mountain to climb in England.
England hasn't lost a test series at home in four years, winning seven in a row since going down to a Graeme Smith-inspired South Africa in 2008.
Smith is again captain in what's likely to be the last England tour for him. Allrounder Jacques Kallis and wicketkeeper Mark Boucher have also been pillars of South Africa's test team for the last decade.
Reinforced by that experience, South Africa has relied on strong away form, and has not lost a test series on foreign soil since 2006, remaining near the top of the rankings and setting up the battle for the No. 1 spot over three tests in England.
As a result—and after a series win in New Zealand earlier this year—the South Africans arrived in England with “a degree of quiet confidence,” Smith said on Saturday.
“We have that strength within the squad and strength in confidence to know we can perform well away from home,” the left-handed opening batsman said.
“Having had a success here in 2008, we are hoping to build on that and taste that again.
“But England are a quality team and throughout all the years of touring here it is always difficult to beat England.”
South Africa's batsmen will have to adapt quickly to greener conditions in England, while the two leading fast-bowling attacks in world cricket will be on show throughout the series, which starts at The Oval July 19.
Top-ranked test bowler Dale Steyn, No. 5-ranked Vernon Philander and 10th-ranked Morne Morkel lead South Africa's bowling against No. 3-ranked James Anderson, No. 6-ranked Stuart Broad and the improving Steve Finn and Tim Bresnan for England.
What will likely set the tone is the way South Africa's top order stands up to Anderson and Broad in unfamiliar conditions.
“I think as a whole the top six needs to be really tight and perform well for each other. That's going be a key factor in the series,” Smith said.
Also critical for South Africa's squad will be its mental strength, which has been shaken by unforgiving South Africans supporters last year after the talented team failed at the 50-over World Cup in India.
That heavily-criticized lapse led to former Proteas batsman Kirsten being fast-tracked in as coach after ending his time in charge of India as a World Cup winner.
The South Africa squad completely ignored cricket for four days in Switzerland last week, the team said, focusing instead on building team spirit by mountain biking, river rafting and hiking together.
“It might boil down to crucial moments... in the test series,” Kirsten said, adding that “we want to make sure that we're up for that ... as a unit and as a group of people.”
Also simmering in the background of every England-South Africa series, ready to be stoked up at any moment, is the issue of the South African-born members of the England team.
Kevin Pietersen's career was probably molded by his fiery debut for England in South Africa. There's also Cape Town-born Jonathan Trott in England's top order now.
And Kirsten's familiarity with England coach and former Zimbabwe international Andy Flower, who's turned the English into the dominant team, will add to the intrigue.
“We are fairly good friends ... I respect the way he (Flower) goes about his business,” Kirsten said. “I've played cricket against him, so I understand his thinking and his ways.
“We've got some different thoughts on certain things, but he's done an incredible success with England, and he's got a good head on his shoulders,” Kirsten said.
“I wish him well in his coaching career except for the next few months,” he added.
Former India coach Kirsten took his South Africa squad on a team-bonding trip to see Horn in the Swiss Alps before the three-test series against top-ranked England starts this month.
They may be on the rise after another disastrous World Cup, but Kirsten's South Africans still have a mountain to climb in England.
England hasn't lost a test series at home in four years, winning seven in a row since going down to a Graeme Smith-inspired South Africa in 2008.
Smith is again captain in what's likely to be the last England tour for him. Allrounder Jacques Kallis and wicketkeeper Mark Boucher have also been pillars of South Africa's test team for the last decade.
Reinforced by that experience, South Africa has relied on strong away form, and has not lost a test series on foreign soil since 2006, remaining near the top of the rankings and setting up the battle for the No. 1 spot over three tests in England.
As a result—and after a series win in New Zealand earlier this year—the South Africans arrived in England with “a degree of quiet confidence,” Smith said on Saturday.
“We have that strength within the squad and strength in confidence to know we can perform well away from home,” the left-handed opening batsman said.
“Having had a success here in 2008, we are hoping to build on that and taste that again.
“But England are a quality team and throughout all the years of touring here it is always difficult to beat England.”
South Africa's batsmen will have to adapt quickly to greener conditions in England, while the two leading fast-bowling attacks in world cricket will be on show throughout the series, which starts at The Oval July 19.
Top-ranked test bowler Dale Steyn, No. 5-ranked Vernon Philander and 10th-ranked Morne Morkel lead South Africa's bowling against No. 3-ranked James Anderson, No. 6-ranked Stuart Broad and the improving Steve Finn and Tim Bresnan for England.
What will likely set the tone is the way South Africa's top order stands up to Anderson and Broad in unfamiliar conditions.
“I think as a whole the top six needs to be really tight and perform well for each other. That's going be a key factor in the series,” Smith said.
Also critical for South Africa's squad will be its mental strength, which has been shaken by unforgiving South Africans supporters last year after the talented team failed at the 50-over World Cup in India.
That heavily-criticized lapse led to former Proteas batsman Kirsten being fast-tracked in as coach after ending his time in charge of India as a World Cup winner.
The South Africa squad completely ignored cricket for four days in Switzerland last week, the team said, focusing instead on building team spirit by mountain biking, river rafting and hiking together.
“It might boil down to crucial moments... in the test series,” Kirsten said, adding that “we want to make sure that we're up for that ... as a unit and as a group of people.”
Also simmering in the background of every England-South Africa series, ready to be stoked up at any moment, is the issue of the South African-born members of the England team.
Kevin Pietersen's career was probably molded by his fiery debut for England in South Africa. There's also Cape Town-born Jonathan Trott in England's top order now.
And Kirsten's familiarity with England coach and former Zimbabwe international Andy Flower, who's turned the English into the dominant team, will add to the intrigue.
“We are fairly good friends ... I respect the way he (Flower) goes about his business,” Kirsten said. “I've played cricket against him, so I understand his thinking and his ways.
“We've got some different thoughts on certain things, but he's done an incredible success with England, and he's got a good head on his shoulders,” Kirsten said.
“I wish him well in his coaching career except for the next few months,” he added.
