Johannesburg, Nov.20 (ANI): In an indirect rejoinder to South African cricket team coach Mickey Arthur, England captain Andrew Strauss has said that his team is in South Africa to make runs and win matches, and not to make friends.
Strauss was responding to Arthur's comment that the England players were a touch too friendly with his boys and to another comment where he said that with Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott on the field, it seemed that 15 South Africans were playing, Strauss said that while he would not ban Trott from mixing with the South Africa players, he insisted: "He is here to make runs - not make friends."
Captain Strauss reckons it would be ridiculous to prevent Trott and other members of England's team socialising with the opposition.
He warned that niceties would be missing on the field.
Strauss is hoping Arthur's mind games backfire.
On the eve of today's first one-day international here, The Sun quoted Strauss, as saying: "If players being too friendly is a problem for South Africa, that is a great thing for us. I don't think I've seen an England team more motivated to go out and win games of cricket."
"Regardless of what happens off the field, I can assure you there will be no friendliness when we step across that white line. I have no problem with players fraternising off the field but Jonathan's already shown he's here to make runs not make friends," he added.
ENGLAND (likely): Strauss (capt), Trott, Pietersen, Collingwood, Morgan, Prior (wkt), Wright, Rashid, Bresnan, Anderson and Onions.
SOUTH AFRICA (likely): Smith (capt), Kallis, De Villiers, Duminy, Petersen, A Morkel, Boucher (wkt), McLaren, Van der Merwe, Steyn and Langeveldt. (ANI)
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