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Cricket: England A seek bowling improvement

Wednesday 20 January 1999 01:02 GMT
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ENGLAND A need to find a quick answer to their pace bowling problems when they take on Mashonaland in Harare today in the first four-day match of their tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Melvyn Betts has yet to take the field after the tourists' first two one-day games because of a groin injury, but the performance of the other four has caused some concern.

Jason Lewry did take 3 for 32 from his 10 overs in the victory over a Country Districts XI but Darren Thomas never found his rhythm, going for 51 from eight overs although he did take the first wicket of the tour.

There were 13 wides and two no-balls during the District's innings, while the second game, against an Academy XI, saw more wayward bowling from England and another 13 wides and eight no-balls before it was abandoned because of a storm.

This time the perpetrators were Paul Hutchison and Steve Harmison. Hutchison only conceded five runs off the bat, but his five erratic overs still cost 16 while Harmison's three overs cost 23.

Preparation has not been ideal for the quick bowlers as net sessions have been disrupted by the wet weather. .

Furthermore, both Hutchison and Harmison have been suffering from stiff backs, while the pitches have not favoured pace bowling, being understandably soft after all the rain.

The captain, Michael Vaughan, said: "We've got a few sore backs and hopefully they'll recover quite quickly. I think the seamers need a bit more bowling in the middle, like the batsmen, but the spinners have had a good bowl."

Vaughan has looked the part as captain so far, exuding an air of quiet authority, handling the side well in the field and playing two important innings.

But the opposition over the next four days will be strong. Led by Test captain Alistair Campbell, the brothers Grant and Andy Flower are in his team, as are Murray Goodwin and the Nottinghamshire and Zimbabwe leg-spinner Paul Strang.

England A will wait to select their XI until they know the state of the pitch and to assess any outstanding injury doubts.

Betts is close to fitness and it is possible that the tourists could go for five bowlers, with Graeme Swann at six and wicketkeeper Chris Read batting at seven. Whoever misses out in this match will play in the next one, against the President's XI in Kwekwe.

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