'One or two of our players were a bit ring-rusty'

They are known in the trade as "Duncan days" - performances so mediocre that the only man capable of facing the media afterwards is the England coach himself. And true to form, Duncan Fletcher did his best to put a positive spin on a disappointing effort from England's cricketers, after their batsmen and bowlers had both been given the runaround by a spirited South Africa A side.

"It is possible that one or two of our players were a bit ring-rusty," conceded Fletcher as the day drew to a close, although he was quick to point out what a good toss it had been to win, because the pitch swung and seamed for the South African bowlers throughout England's innings. "These guys really know where to put the ball, and they managed to keep it moving for 60 overs, instead of the usual 25."

The new arrivals for the Test series were especially caught out by the conditions, with Mark Butcher, Marcus Trescothick and Graham Thorpe all failing to reach double figures. "Some individuals could have used their time in the middle more effectively," admitted Fletcher, "although hopefully they'll get another chance later when the wicket has flattened out.

"There were too many soft dismissals," he added. "But in those conditions, there is no point in sitting around and trying to block, because you aren't going to get on top of your game, and you're liable to get out anyway. There was a decision to make - try and dominate or get out for nothing - but it was an important wake-up call for the batsmen. They must utilise the time out there as effectively as possible."

After some less-than-taxing outings against Zimbabwe and Namibia, Fletcher had no complaints whatsoever about facing a side that came at England hard. But he was also happy that the pitch had flattened out for his bowlers by the time their turn came in the afternoon session.

"I'm glad it is flat for the bowlers," he explained. "The last thing they need now is a pitch that is doing something. That way they get no mileage in their legs, and they can also get fooled about what lengths to bowl. Today was a timely reminder of the disciplines that are required for Test-match cricket."