Cricket: Tufnell turns new leaf

Cricket

Phil Tufnell, the Middlesex spinner who has been recalled for England's tour to Zimbabwe and New Zealand, has promised to cut out the tantrums which have marred past trips abroad.

The slow left-arm bowler took time out from England's training week in Portugal to say: "I intend to learn from my mistakes. I will have a different approach this winter as I accept I have been a bit naive in the past.

"I don't believe I have ever let England down on the field but have let people down a bit off it," Tufnell added. "My aim in Zimbabwe and New Zealand this winter is to approach everything a bit more professionally."

Tufnell, 30, impressed Middlesex officials last summer with his maturity - he revelled in extra responsibility following the departure of John Emburey to Northamptonshire. Emburey is now assistant coach on England's tour this winter and the former England off-spinner will be a key figure in Tufnell's international return after a 20-month absence from Test cricket.

"I believe I am a better bowler now than a couple of years ago," Tufnell said. "I am more experienced and that counts for a lot as a slow bowler."

England A battled back from a disastrous start to their four-day match with South Australia at the Adelaide Oval yesterday with determined middle and late-order batting.

After winning the toss and deciding to bat, the tourists recovered from 46 for 4 to reach 232 for 9 at the close, after the pace bowler Mark Harrity, who has just returned from Australia's troubled trip to India, claimed 4 for 61.

Mark Butcher and Craig White began the fightback with a 108-run fifth- wicket stand to save England from a first-day collapse against the Sheffield Shield holders. White fell for 61 while Butcher was dismissed for 73 - both after poor shots.

England A won toss

ENGLAND A - First Innings

M A Butcher c sub b Scuderi 73

M P Vaughan c Nielson b Harrity 2

A McGrath c Nielson b Blewett 5

O A Shah c Siddons b Gillespie 9

*A J Hollioake c Nielson b Harrity 9

C White c Scuderi b Young 61

M A Ealham c Nielson b Scuderi 17

W K Hegg not out 21

A F Giles b Harrity 17

A J Harris lbw b Harrity 0

D W Headley not out 2

Extras (b1, lb12, nb3) 16

Total (for 9, 97 overs) 232

Fall: 1-2, 2-18, 3-27, 4-45, 5-154, 6-174, 7-191, 8-216, 9-218.

Bowling: Gillespie 18-8-25-1; Harrity 23-7-61-4; Blewett 13-1-50-1; McIntyre 23-11-40-0; Young 12-4-17-1; Scuderi 8-2-26-2.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA: G S Blewett, B A Johnson, *J D Siddons, D S Lehmann, J A Brayshawe, J C Scuderi, T J Nielson, B E Young, J N Gillespie, P E McIntyre, M A Harrity.

Umpires: A J Hunter and R G Kinnear.