Trescothick takes care of the future

DAVID LLEWELLYN

reports from Chelmsford

South Africa Under-19 232-5 England Under-19 236-1 England won by nine wickets

The future of English cricket is not merely bright, it is positively dazzling if the performance of these teenage tearaways is anything to go by. For the second match running the openers Marcus Trescothick and Anthony McGrath vandalised a limited South African attack.

The pair had steered England to victory with an unbroken 183 in the first one-day international at the weekend. Yesterday they surpassed themselves, putting on 230 before Trescothick, on 111, fell tamely, chipping a catch to midwicket when three runs were required for victory.

By then, though, Trescothick and his partner had done more than enough to underline England's superiority. They outbowled and outbatted their opponents and established an awesome psychological advantage in readiness for the three-match Test series which opens at Taunton later this month.

There was something menacing in the way the pair accumulated runs seemingly at leisure. They paced things perfectly, in the manner of men far senior. But if the partnership appeared unhurried, they still won with 10 of the scheduled 55 overs to spare.

Trescothick was out after three hours and six minutes of consummate batsmanship, hitting 16 fours and a six. McGrath's unbeaten 106 contained a dozen fours and both players displayed massive talent. And England do not lack that much on the bowling front. Worcestershire's Vikram Solanki - an athlete in the field - and the other off-spinner, Jason Searle of Durham, turned in impressive performances.

Already half a dozen of this England side have made their first-class debuts for their counties. That showed in the gulf between the two sides. Trescothick has led from the front in both one-day internationals now and looks the part as captain.

The South Africans are not without good players. They are perhaps a little raw, but Bruce Hughes is a wicketkeeper-batsman of quality. He recognised the urgency to pile up the runs on a friendly wicket after Ashwell Prince, their other half- centurion, had allowed himself to get bogged down. But their bowlers were unable to apply pressure when it was needed.