Women's Test: Craft and graft bring reward for Taylor

South Africa 316 and 18-0; England 497

Finally England have the edge over South Africa in an nPower-sponsored Test, but all plaudits must be directed towards the fairer sex - though during playing hours it would be unwise to label them so.

At any other time they are thoroughly charming people, but make no mistake, the England women's cricket team are anything but gentle on the pitch. Claire Taylor, a compact right-hander, amassed 177, an innings as technically proficient as any most of her male counterparts could offer, while Lydia Greenway, a southpaw, supported ably and scored her maiden Test half-century.

Jane Smit, a World Cup winner in 1993, added another as England reached 497, a first-innings lead of 181, which South Africa reduced by 18 by the close.

Throughout, as the tireless and committed South Africans fielded in the heat, a chorus of support and approval rung out from the pavilion benches where the other England players congregated. Not one was asleep on a bench in the dressing room or casually flicking through a newspaper.

Maybe because they play so few games, two Tests and three one-day internationals this summer, every ball is savoured, every over dis-sected and every dismissal lamented. Their club cricket usually involves a journey of three hours, so when they turn up, they do so to compete.

The target is, of course, to be the best in the world. To that end an Aussie, John Harmer, was appointed coach for 18 months. He has recently been succeeded by Richard Bates, formerly a professional with Nottinghamshire. "John was fantastic, especially at biomechanics and technique," Bates said, "but what we have to develop more now is game awareness, an understanding of the game and its tactics - but I think that will come naturally as they play more."

The techniques are generally good but, and this is the point Bates makes, the subtle skills - pinching of singles or pressuring fielders for runs - are not as well-honed. "It will come," said Bates. "Out of all the cricket I've been involved in, this has been the most satisfying coaching. The girls desperately want to learn. In fact it is almost an obsession or a profession. But there are new methods we have to develop to dominate games or bowlers. They lack the power of the men, so have to force the game in other ways."

Power is certainly the biggest difference between the men's and women's games. Full-tosses are caressed for singles instead of being smashed into Row Z, and the pace of the ball, from both the bowler and off the bat, is considerably less.

Not that it diminishes the spectacle. The excitement of a "nasty fastie" or a smasher is missing, but the players will develop other areas to compensate, and as they get stronger, the pace will increase.

Undoubtedly the standard has improved since the ECB took control in 1998 and the women gained access to coaches and resources. With the side predominantly in their early twenties, the pace of improvement could increase. "What we must not do is compare this directly to men's cricket," Bates added. "They are not like with like."

The next World Cup is in 18 months' time in South Africa, and will show if England's improvement from fifth in the world to third has continued. The girls certainly have the ambition and work ethic, so much so that they have improvised a medicinal plunge pool by filling a toddlers' paddling pool with ice. Not a gin and tonic in sight, even for the centurion.