England star Dom Sibley showing patient side in South Africa after struggles in New Zealand
DOM SIBLEY showed his patient side as he continued his quest to prove he can become a successful Test opener.
He scored 58 from 140 balls on England’s first day of match practice on their four-Test tour of South Africa.
It came after he managed just 52 first-class runs in four innings on the recent trip to New Zealand, when big questions were asked about his technique.
Caution and watchfulness are England’s new batting mantras under head coach Chris Silverwood — and Sibley stuck to the gameplan.
He will keep his place for the First Test against the Proteas on Boxing Day and open with Surrey skipper Rory Burns.
Sibley, 24, stressed: “I want to peak at the right times. It was nice to get a few runs.
“You can’t beat time at the crease and there’s another three-day game coming up, so there’ll be opportunities there as well.
“I only had three Test innings in New Zealand — it’s not much.
I’m just going to stick to my strengths and stay chilled out. I’ve got to start getting some scores but hopefully Boxing Day will be my day.
Dom Sibley
“In the first innings I felt good and felt at home but for the Second Test I probably put myself under a little bit too much pressure to get a score.
“I got too far across, which I wasn’t doing in the summer. It’s nothing major, just little tweaks and getting back to what I was doing well for Warwickshire, hitting past mid-on.
“I’m just going to play my game, stick to my strengths and stay chilled out. I’ve got to start getting some scores but hopefully Boxing Day will be my day, if I play.”
Test captain Joe Root followed his 226 against the Kiwis two weeks ago with the most aggressive innings against the South African Invitation XI — 72 from 86 balls.
Kent’s Joe Denly, inked in to continue as England’s No 3, contributed 60 from 98 after benefitting from a dropped catch at cover when he had scored 28.
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Sibley, Denly and Root all retired to give other batsmen a chance. England finished on 309-4 and will bowl today on the final day of the two-day match.
Pacemen Jofra Archer and Stuart Broad have been suffering with colds but England hope they will be OK to bowl.
Jimmy Anderson will turn over his arm in a match for England for the first time since damaging a calf muscle on August 1.
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