Anderson in shape for first Test Bell expected to get the nod at No 6 as rusty Pietersen puts in some hard graft

• Published in: Sunday telegraph (London, England)
• Main Author: Steve James in East London
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: London (UK) Daily Telegraph 13.12.2009
• ISSN: 0307-269X

BRING on the real stuff. Four days in East London might have provided some belatedly game opposition when Charl Pietersen and David Wiese were carving England's bowlers to all parts yesterday, but the hosts were too callow, and the docile pitch - despite the groundstaff performing miracles after recent deluges - too far removed from the bouncier surface expected at Centurion for Wednesday's first Test. Although [Duncan Fletcher] works part-time with Pietersen's county, Hampshire, his consultancy contract with CSA - after much deliberation - eventually precluded it. Instead Pietersen has worked maniacally with [Andy Flower] and the surprising returnee as batting coach, Graham Gooch. Rewards will surely be reaped. England (probable): *AJ Strauss, AN Cook, IJL Trott, KP Pietersen, PD Collingwood, IR Bell, +MJ Prior, SCJ Broad, GP Swann, RJ Sidebottom, JM [James Anderson].