Skipper Alastair Cook accepts England will probably need to raise their game a notch or two to win a fourth straight Ashes series but almost scoffed at suggestions the tourists were running scared.
Despite the first Ashes series of the year having concluded so recently, the war of words before the second five-match encounter has been as intense as ever and Australia’s David Warner said this week that he detected fear in the tourists.
England have good reason to feel confident having dominated the home Ashes series 3-0 and Cook said his experienced side were taking all the pre-match hype in their stride.
“We certainly don’t fear anyone, that’s quite clear by the way we go about our business,” he told reporters at the Gabba, where the first test gets underway on Thursday.
“We’re a very competitive side and there’s no reason to fear any side out there. We don’t really concentrate on what people say about us, it’s about how we play in that first hour tomorrow.
“There’s been a lot of words said, but when it comes to 10 o’clock tomorrow morning, that’s all irrelevant.”
England’s one injury concern before the first test is the strained calf of wicketkeeper Matt Prior but Cook sounded reasonably confident that stand-in Jonny Bairstow would not be required.
“He’s (Prior) got the last part of his fitness to go now, yesterday he trained really well and came through all that we asked of him,” he said.
“With leg injuries, it’s usually about how you pull up the next day after a rigorous session. We’ll know pretty soon.”
Vice captain Prior, with his leg heavily strapped but clearly mobile, remained on the Gabba pitch training long after most of his team mates had packed up on Wednesday.
Prior and Cook were key members of the England line-up that contributed a torrent of runs three years ago when England won the Ashes in Australia for the first time in 24 years.
GOOD PLACE
Cook alone contributed a remarkable 766 runs at an average of 128 but was less spectacular in the first Ashes series of this year as England’s top order rarely caught fire on the slow pitches back home.
“That’s an area where we know we have to get better, we were 30 for three several times in that series and I was part of that,” he said.
“I’m happy with the way I’ve played in these warm-up games. Who knows what’s going to happen, but I feel in a good place right now.”
The feeling that England won on home soil with something to spare is one of the reasons for their confidence coming into this series and Cook suggested Australian conditions might suit their vaunted batsmen better.
“We know how important first innings runs are in Australia, if you want to set the game up, you have to score big,” he said.
“The wickets here are slightly easier to score runs on than in England, it’s the job of the batsmen to set the game up.”
Cook’s brilliant 235 not out at the Gabba in 2010 only contributed to a draw for the visitors as Australia maintained their record of not having lost to England at the ground since 1986.
Australia consider the Gabba their test match fortress and England can expect a less than welcoming reception from the Queensland public on Thursday.
That will be especially the case for paceman Stuart Broad, whose refusal to walk at Trent Bridge in the opening test of the first series infuriated many in Australia.
Cook, though, was confident the barracking would only spur on his team mate.
“He’s a very combative character, he’s an in-your-face kind of cricketer, I like that about him,” Cook said.
“Every time you give him a challenge… he’s stood up and delivered. He’s done that a number of times for England, a magic spell of bowling.
“He’s got the ability to change games. He looks in fine fettle with the ball and he’s raring to go.”
Preview:First Test South Africa vs England
Experienced South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis will not be able to bowl in the first test against England, captain Graeme Smith said on Tuesday.
Jacques Kallis of South Africa stretches during a South Africa Nets Session at Centurion Park on December 15, 2009 in Centurion, South Africa.
Kallis has fractured rib cartilage and will play as a specialist batsman only, weakening an attack that will rely on fast bowlers Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini and Morne Morkel and spinner Paul Harris.
“We obviously won’t have the luxury of Jacques bowling, but the other bowlers know they have to take responsibility and they’ve been picked to do their jobs well,” Smith told a news conference.
“It’s been a lengthy period since we last played test cricket but we have a very mature squad who have enjoyed a lot of success and they know what to do. We are as best-prepared as we can be, there’s been a good calm, focus and intensity about our preparations.”
England captain Andrew Strauss leads a team including four players born in South Africa, himself, batsmen Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott, and wicketkeeper Matt Prior.
“The fact there are South African-born players in the team is not an issue for us, we know we have the best 15 players in England here. The fact some of them were born somewhere else doesn’t come into it, it’s a non-issue,” Strauss said.
England will delay naming their side until Wednesday morning but Strauss said he had a full squad to choose from.
“We’re very happy with the way Jimmy Anderson has pulled up, his knee niggle has never stopped him from bowling at any stage and he has progressed the way we wanted.
“Graeme Swann’s side is still niggling him but as a spinner he does not put as much strain on it as a seamer and it’s something he’s more than capable of playing through,” Strauss said.
FRONTLINE BOWLERS
England may call up all-rounder Luke Wright and play just five specialist batsmen, or name six specialist batsmen and just four frontline bowlers.
“Obviously if the pitch is going to do a huge amount, it makes a case for playing an extra batsman, but we’re still not 100 percent sure how the pitch will play,” Strauss said.
The match will be the first for each side since the official introduction of the umpire decision review system.
“We’ll have to be smart about how we use the review system. My initial reservations about it have not gone away, but I hear the more you use it, the better it gets,” Strauss said.
“I think the review system still needs to prove its worth,” Smith said. “I’m a little bit sceptical about it but we’ll have to be positive.”
Ntini plays his 100th test and Smith praised him not only as a fast bowler but also a significant figure in a troubled country still grappling with profound racial issues.
“Transformation is ongoing, it’s something we have to keep working on, but Makhaya has been a real success case and it’s been great to have been part of his career,” Smith said.
“He’ll tell you that his success is down to a lot of hard work, he’s had his ups and downs but he’s always met them with 100 percent commitment.
“Makhaya has become the spearhead of our attack and I’ve been very grateful for his energy and commitment as a leader.
“He’s a vibrant person and he’s played a prominent role not just in this team but in South Africa,” Smith added.
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