South Africa a Thrilling Prospect Says Bracewell
9 August 2012
John Bracewell is already rubbing his hands at the prospect of Gloucestershire taking on the South Africans in a one-day match at Bristol on Wednesday August 22nd.
The club’s Director of Cricket is determined to put one over on the tourists, who will be finalising preparations for a five-match ODI series against England, starting just two days after their visit to the County Ground.
But John also believes the match will be a tremendous learning experience for Gloucestershire’s young squad, as well as providing a feast of entertainment for home supporters.
He told this website: “South Africa are becoming a formidable one-day side. Their bowling attack is gathering the ability to be successful in all forms of cricket and I am looking forward to seeing our guys tested by the likes of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.
“They are starting to be up there with the Lillee-Thomson, Marshall-Holding fast bowling partnerships and they instigate fear through pace, hostility and, above all, control.
"As far as their batting is concerned, of all the great players in the world, I think A.B.de Villiers is an absolute star of one-day cricket.
“His ability to find space in the field and also hit the ball out of the ground is something to behold. He is a 360 degree player and powerful all around the pitch, having evolved his batting in an amazing fashion over the last few years.
“I hope that first and foremost we are competitive because it is always a challenge facing top international opposition and we will set out to win the game.
“Secondly, South Africa are one of the most professional units in world cricket at the moment, so I hope our players watch how they operate.
“The one per cent things they do to be successful that we continually ask for and our guys continually forget should be on view for us to learn from.
“The best teams not only have talent, but put together a lot of those one per centers to make the difference. The sides who deal in detail are the ones really worth watching.”
It says a lot about John that even at an advanced stage in his own career he will be looking to pick up some coaching tips from the tour game.
“I see it as a great learning opportunity for us – and I include myself in that,” he said. “I shall be looking at how their coach Gary Kirsten operates, even though he is younger and less experienced than I am.
“There is nothing wrong with people being younger than you and you looking up to them. Gary has some very special skills that I can glean information from.”
John expects the tourists to field a very strong side so close to the start of the ODI series, which begins at the Swalec Stadium in Cardiff on Friday August 24th.
“South Africa have been in England for a while so there is no need for them to mix and match their team any more to give as many players as possible a chance,” he said.
“They will be treating the tour game as a serious preparation for the one-day series against England so our supporters will have the opportunity to see some of the best cricketers in ther world gathered together.”
Tickets are available in advance for this match at just £15 for adults, £5 for U16s and £32 for a family (2 adults, 2 U16s). Available online with no booking fees here. Groups of 5 or more adults are just £10 per ticket - call the Ticket Office on 0117 910 8010 for this offer. In addition to the cricket action there's lots to do around the ground with free amusements for children.
