Peter Moores: 'You don't build great teams overnight, because if you could everyone would be doing it'.
England's players may have to take a second look when they step out at Lord's on July 10 because, for the first time in 19 matches, spread over nearly half a year, their opposition won't be New Zealand. The arrival of South Africa, who are beginning their tour with a convincing display in Taunton, marks the start of whole new challenge for England in every sense.
"It's a good time to play somebody else and see some different faces," England coach Peter Moores joked. "Everyone is really looking forward to it. We know South Africa have played really good cricket for the last 18 months, they are maturing as a team, and they have gone up the rankings. It's a great challenge for the second half of the summer and it should be a great contest for our side."
The recent one-day series defeat confirms that in the limited overs game England are still struggling to develop a successful strategy. However, in the Test arena the signs are there that the team is starting to find its identity after the shock of losing in Hamilton during March. Against a better team than New Zealand they would have lost at Old Trafford, but it was a show of character to turn around a 179-run deficit. Then at Trent Bridge, from a tough position of 86 for 5, they controlled the match and won by an innings.
Now it's time to see what the team is really made of. The tasks ahead of them are getting tougher; South Africa is followed by a tour of India, then a series against West Indies who are improving in the Test arena before, of course, the Ashes next summer.
"For us to lose the one-day series is disappointing because we have been moving forward as a team. I don't think that will stop because of the defeat," said Moores, during a coaching clinic at Lord's. "You don't build great teams overnight, because if you could everyone would be doing it. It tends to go through a journey. We went hell for leather to try and win the series, it didn't happen, so we now have to go away and focus on the Tests against South Africa. When we regroup for the next one-dayers it's about taking the lessons we have learnt and have another go."
The squad will be named on Thursday and there will be short odds on England setting a new record for consecutive unchanged elevens, having equalled the 120-year-old mark of five at Trent Bridge. The misfiring top order will be given another vote of confidence - Ian Bell did just enough in the one-dayers while Paul Collingwood was finding form before a tough match at The Oval - Tim Ambrose has looked a better Test than one-day player, and the bowling attack is settled.
There has been criticism that it's too cosy in the England team, but Moores says that if changes need to be made they will be. "To give the selectors their due we have seen consistent selection, but when the time as come for changes we have seen them too, recently in the bowling department," he said. "But there has to be this balance so that players aren't worried if they fail once, but conversely don't feel undroppable.
"International cricket is a tough business and often very good players are competing with other very good players and they've just got to make sure they are doing everything they can to be selected. I think people understand that if they get there opportunity they are going to want to be given a fair amount of time to prove themselves.
"Part of the thing about playing the same team five times is partly selection but also injury," he added. "Not to have an injury is good and I give some credit there to the work the lads are doing, as it is based around injury prevention, which helps keep them on the park. Of course you want consistency because you get to know the team, but it's the balance between that and keeping it fresh enough for people to get in."
For the second time this season, though, the key decision rests around one man who has caused hours to deliberation. Andrew Flintoff is back in action after recovering from his side strain, but one first-class match is hardly the preparation for a tough Test series. England would have recalled him against New Zealand if it hadn't been for his latest injury and Moores has been in regular contact with him. The two had a long chat at Old Trafford before the Twenty20 against New Zealand and Flintoff has done some work with Andy Flower and Ottis Gibson, the batting and bowling coaches.
"In the time out, his hunger to play for England has only grown," said Moores. "The key for him is getting fit and strong and ready to bowl. His introduction back into Test cricket will be at the right time for him and England."
The temptation to bring Flintoff back will be great, especially as he has the quality that England will face in abundance over the next two months: pace. Dale Steyn is one of the hottest properties in international cricket and the South Africans are bullish that he will be a key difference.
"Everyone talks about their pace attack, but it will be a good series because the England pace attack is developing," said Moores. "Ryan Sidebottom is sixth in the world, James Anderson is full of confidence and Stuart Broad is emerging. Then there are those outside pushing for a place. For either side to win it won't just be down to one facet, it will be that they have done all three things well."
Peter Moores is an ambassador for the Sky Sports ECB Coach Education Programme which reached over 5500 coaches during its first year as grassroots participation grew by 27%
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