Head Coach Peter Moores effusively praised the professional and social benefits of what he saw as a thoroughly successful pre-season tour of Pretoria.

The Green and Golds visited the capital of South Africa for a ten-day camp at the city’s university campus, with their trip concluding with a two-day friendly against a Titans XI.

“It’s been really good, because some lads have been away this winter and when you get all the squad together, we get talking in the language of playing competitive cricket, and that’s what it’s all about,” reflected Moores.

“We had two good days between ourselves, and then a very good two days against Titans, where all the bowlers had a good run-out and managed to back themselves up with two or three spells.

“Everyone also got a bit of time in the middle too, so the whole squad feels as though they’re all ready.

“The aim now is to just refine their basics and get themselves ready for April, which especially for batters, can be quite a challenging time in England. You do have to be ready to get through some tough spells.”

The 63-year-old is confident that the work put in in Pretoria will only serve the Green and Golds well as their preparations ramp up for the start of the new season.

“Now, we’re looking to go to the next stage, which is to play some practice games back in England and start to get back used to our conditions for what will be an exciting start to the Championship,” he smiled.

“I think we all know that England has been very wet this winter,” he explained.

“Although I actually think the weather has picked up in the time we’ve been away, we knew we likely weren’t going to be on grass until maybe the 20th of March at the earliest.

“So, the fact that we’ve had a chance to get these 10 days in, is really important from a skills point of view.”

Moores was keen to point out a particular group within his squad that were particular beneficiaries of nine days’ full outdoor practice.

“From a bowler’s point of view too, they need to get on grass to bowl competitive overs and build up their resistance to injuries,” he said. “It’s different to bowling indoors.

“The surface is softer, the footholds are different, and you have to start getting used to those conditions, which we’ve done over the last 10 days. We’ll be carrying that on when we’re back.”

The Head Coach was also proud of the competitive efforts put in by his players in the two-day fixture against the local South African outfit.

“Everybody played well against Titans,” he said.

“The competition is obviously going to be a lot tougher than what we’ve had over here, so I don’t think we fool ourselves either, but to get some time in the middle was valuable.

“I like the way our players were working because there was a clear focus for each player and what he thought he needed to get himself ready.”

For Moores too, the benefits of the tour were not just felt on the field, with strong bonds emerging across the group too, an added positive that he feels will only serve the squad well.

“There’s a nice relationship between all the players and coaches, because a lot of us now go a long way back together,” he said.

“There was a moment with a braai at the end of the two-day internal practice, where everyone was sat around enjoying themselves, and it felt really nice.

“It felt like we were properly back together as a group, and that really meant something, after a winter when people were all over the place.

“To get everybody back together, the whole squad and all the coaches, felt like you’re getting yourself ready to go into battle again, which is what’s going to come over the next few weeks.”