DURBAN, 24 December 2004 — England coach Duncan Fletcher has warned South Africa to expect no let-up in the second Test as the tourists bid to extend their record run of victories to nine.
“We seem to have developed a side with a bit of mettle, they’re ready to scrap it out with any other side,” Fletcher told a news conference yesterday.
“We’ve put up a formula that hard work gives you confidence, which gives you winning, which gives you enjoyment.
“South Africa were only on top on the third day (in Port Elizabeth) when we gave away seven wickets. “Outside of that they were playing catch-up with us.”
England won the first match in the five-Test series by seven wickets on Tuesday.
South Africa responded by recalling opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs and fast bowler Charl Langeveldt for the second Test, which starts in Durban on Sunday.
Left-arm spinner Nicky Boje, who is recovering from thyroid surgery , has been declared fit, while South African are hopeful that all-rounder Jacques Kallis is over his ankle injury and will be able to bowl.
“The side they’ve picked is a lot stronger than the one they had before,” said Fletcher.
“They should be more experienced, but a couple of their guys could be undercooked.”
Gibbs, a veteran of 60 Test matches, pulled out of South Africa’s tour to India in November over concerns that he may be detained in connection with a police investigation into match-fixing.
A hand injury kept him out of domestic matches until Wednesday when he was dismissed cheaply but Fletcher is wary of the threat the destructive opener can pose.
“I’m a fan, he’s the type of individual who can make a difference and we will have to get into him early,” said a confident Fletcher .
