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Cape Town - Proteas coach Gary Kirsten says a lack of preparation cannot be blamed if they're not ready for their Test series against England next month.
The three-Test series starts at the Oval on July 19 - a series the South Africans have to win if they want to surpass England as the No 1-ranked Test team in the world.
When the series commences England would have had plenty of practice as they are in the middle of their season and currently involved in a series against the West Indies.
But Kirsten told Die Burger that the match schedule has been out for long and they just need to ensure that they're ready.
"The fixtures are no secret and we have to manage the players in such a way that it's not a problem."
He's also not worried about the English conditions providing his players with any major problems.
"Most of the guys know the conditions. They know what they have to do in order to bat and bowl there," said Kirsten.
However, before the England tour the Proteas will head off to Zimbabwe for an unofficial Twenty20 tri-series against the hosts and Bangladesh, starting on Monday.
Proteas’ T20 squad for the tri-series in Zimbabwe:
Johan Botha (Warriors, captain), Hashim Amla (Dolphins), Farhaan Behardien (Titans), Marchant de Lange (Titans), JP Duminy (Cape Cobras), Faf du Plessis (Titans), Colin Ingram (Warriors), Richard Levi (Cape Cobras), Albie Morkel (Titans), Chris Morris (Highveld Lions), Justin Ontong (Cape Cobras), Wayne Parnell (Warriors), Robin Peterson (Cape Cobras), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (Warriors), Dane Vilas (Cape Cobras)
Proteas' Test squad for the England series:
Graeme Smith (captain), Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, Marchant de Lange, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Jacques Rudolph, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe
The three-Test series starts at the Oval on July 19 - a series the South Africans have to win if they want to surpass England as the No 1-ranked Test team in the world.
When the series commences England would have had plenty of practice as they are in the middle of their season and currently involved in a series against the West Indies.
But Kirsten told Die Burger that the match schedule has been out for long and they just need to ensure that they're ready.
"The fixtures are no secret and we have to manage the players in such a way that it's not a problem."
He's also not worried about the English conditions providing his players with any major problems.
"Most of the guys know the conditions. They know what they have to do in order to bat and bowl there," said Kirsten.
However, before the England tour the Proteas will head off to Zimbabwe for an unofficial Twenty20 tri-series against the hosts and Bangladesh, starting on Monday.
Proteas’ T20 squad for the tri-series in Zimbabwe:
Johan Botha (Warriors, captain), Hashim Amla (Dolphins), Farhaan Behardien (Titans), Marchant de Lange (Titans), JP Duminy (Cape Cobras), Faf du Plessis (Titans), Colin Ingram (Warriors), Richard Levi (Cape Cobras), Albie Morkel (Titans), Chris Morris (Highveld Lions), Justin Ontong (Cape Cobras), Wayne Parnell (Warriors), Robin Peterson (Cape Cobras), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (Warriors), Dane Vilas (Cape Cobras)
Proteas' Test squad for the England series:
Graeme Smith (captain), Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, Marchant de Lange, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Jacques Rudolph, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe
