Cricket
England trio set for SA visit
2011-12-07 16:45
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Rob Houwing, Sport24 chief writerCape Town - The strongest pace attack visiting South Africa in the remainder of this season arguably won’t belong to moderate Test-series visitors Sri Lanka.
England strike bowlers Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Chris Tremlett head for our shores on Thursday ... but they won’t be seeing any competitive action here.
The tall-timber trio will instead take part in a two-week “boot camp” at the highly-rated Highveld facilities of Potchefstroom University, as part of fitness rehabilitation drives ahead of that country’s Test series against Pakistan in the neutral United Arab Emirates from mid-January.
General sporting infrastructure, firm pitches and usually the decent weather in “Potch” are always strong lures for visiting cricketers and teams - the Australians particularly enjoy setting up camp there when they have the need.
In Broad’s case, he will have his first bowl in three months at the university, after tearing a muscle in his right arm at Lord’s against India in mid-September.
He was a slightly stormy figure during England’s last Test series in South Africa two years ago, often criticised by commentators and local spectators for what they regarded as petulant on-field behaviour.
But he will presumably stay primarily out of the public eye during his training stint in the North West Province town ...