Agency :
England are considering an all-pace attack for the first test against South Africa in Pretoria starting on Boxing Day, but their plans will depend on whether they can get Jofra Archer and Stuart Broad fully fit.
Both fast bowlers came through net sessions on Monday unscathed, but have not bowled in match conditions on the tour after being laid low by flu over the past week.
With James Anderson only recently back to full fitness after an extended spell on the sidelines there may be concerns about any of them breaking down, but England coach Chris Silverwood said they would trust the players on how they feel.
“Broady, if he tells me he is fit then I have to believe him. He has got a lot of experience under his belt and he knows his body,” Silverwood said.
“Jofra has had two good days [in the nets] and as long as his pace is up and he feels good, then he will be a serious contender for selection.”
Silverwood admits an all-pace attack on what is traditionally a bouncy pitch on the Highveld is something they are considering.
“We are looking at what is most effective on this ground. We have got some good recent results from the spin-bowling department and [Jack] Leach is coming back to fitness, we also have Dominic Bess and Parky [Matthew Parkinson],” he said.
“We have got resources there, but we are just looking at what will be most effective in this game. We are not definitely going down the route of all seam, it is something we will discuss in the next few days.”
Other seam options include Chris Woakes, Sam Curran, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood and Craig Overton.
Silverwood also had special praise for the efforts of Woakes and suggested he might shorten his length on the South African wickets to be more effective.
“We saw in the two-day fixture he did get aggressive for a while and it worked,” he said. “It is something he has in his armoury and I think he enjoyed it.”
England drew their final warm-up game against South Africa A on Sunday, where the hosts were 325-5 in reply to the tourists’ 456-7 declared.
Record wicket taker James Anderson, returning to action after a calf injury sustained on the first day of the first Ashes Test against Australia in August, finished with 3-41 off 19 overs.
Keegan Petersen scored an impressive 111 for South Africa A before he was bowled by Sam Curran at which point the captains shook hands on a draw.
Ollie Pope (132) and Joe Denly (103) both scored centuries for England in their innings.
The first Test at Centurion is followed by matches at Newlands in Cape Town, St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth and the Wanderers in Johannesburg.
Meanwhile, South Africa seamer Vernon Philander has announced his international retirement at the conclusion of the forthcoming Test series against England.
Philander, 34, has played 60 Tests and 37 white-ball matches for the Proteas. He has taken 216 Test scalps, at an average of 22.16, as well as 41 in one-day internationals and four during a brief stint in Twenty20s.
Arguably his most memorable moment came on Test debut in 2011 when he claimed five for 15 in the second innings against Australia, helping to bowl the tourists out for 47 in Cape Town.
He said: “I want to give thanks to my Heavenly Father for blessing me with the opportunity to represent my country for the last 12 years.
“It has been a honour and privilege to have played alongside the very best in the game.
“My entire focus and energy at this time is to help the Proteas beat England which I am really looking forward to.”
England are considering an all-pace attack for the first test against South Africa in Pretoria starting on Boxing Day, but their plans will depend on whether they can get Jofra Archer and Stuart Broad fully fit.
Both fast bowlers came through net sessions on Monday unscathed, but have not bowled in match conditions on the tour after being laid low by flu over the past week.
With James Anderson only recently back to full fitness after an extended spell on the sidelines there may be concerns about any of them breaking down, but England coach Chris Silverwood said they would trust the players on how they feel.
“Broady, if he tells me he is fit then I have to believe him. He has got a lot of experience under his belt and he knows his body,” Silverwood said.
“Jofra has had two good days [in the nets] and as long as his pace is up and he feels good, then he will be a serious contender for selection.”
Silverwood admits an all-pace attack on what is traditionally a bouncy pitch on the Highveld is something they are considering.
“We are looking at what is most effective on this ground. We have got some good recent results from the spin-bowling department and [Jack] Leach is coming back to fitness, we also have Dominic Bess and Parky [Matthew Parkinson],” he said.
“We have got resources there, but we are just looking at what will be most effective in this game. We are not definitely going down the route of all seam, it is something we will discuss in the next few days.”
Other seam options include Chris Woakes, Sam Curran, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood and Craig Overton.
Silverwood also had special praise for the efforts of Woakes and suggested he might shorten his length on the South African wickets to be more effective.
“We saw in the two-day fixture he did get aggressive for a while and it worked,” he said. “It is something he has in his armoury and I think he enjoyed it.”
England drew their final warm-up game against South Africa A on Sunday, where the hosts were 325-5 in reply to the tourists’ 456-7 declared.
Record wicket taker James Anderson, returning to action after a calf injury sustained on the first day of the first Ashes Test against Australia in August, finished with 3-41 off 19 overs.
Keegan Petersen scored an impressive 111 for South Africa A before he was bowled by Sam Curran at which point the captains shook hands on a draw.
Ollie Pope (132) and Joe Denly (103) both scored centuries for England in their innings.
The first Test at Centurion is followed by matches at Newlands in Cape Town, St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth and the Wanderers in Johannesburg.
Meanwhile, South Africa seamer Vernon Philander has announced his international retirement at the conclusion of the forthcoming Test series against England.
Philander, 34, has played 60 Tests and 37 white-ball matches for the Proteas. He has taken 216 Test scalps, at an average of 22.16, as well as 41 in one-day internationals and four during a brief stint in Twenty20s.
Arguably his most memorable moment came on Test debut in 2011 when he claimed five for 15 in the second innings against Australia, helping to bowl the tourists out for 47 in Cape Town.
He said: “I want to give thanks to my Heavenly Father for blessing me with the opportunity to represent my country for the last 12 years.
“It has been a honour and privilege to have played alongside the very best in the game.
“My entire focus and energy at this time is to help the Proteas beat England which I am really looking forward to.”
