Arthur says Proteas need to improve

Cape Town, South Africa:

South Africa coach Mickey Arthur said his bowlers' poor form on flat wickets and the younger batsmen's inability to convert good starts into big scores in the one-day series against England are his team's two main problems.

Arthur, speaking ahead of the third ODI in Cape Town on Friday, said on Wednesday that England had adapted to the flattish wicket at Supersport Park on Sunday better than South Africa. England won by seven wickets to lead 1-0 in the five-match series.

"They bowled good areas and they hit the ball (straight) down the ground (more). We hit more boundaries, but England hit a huge amount more 'ones.' There's a saying that 'ones take the pressure off' and we have to look at that," Arthur said.

"There are two areas we have to look at. Execution on flat wickets ... as bowlers that is something we need to hone. And we are a little bit worried about younger batters going on to make big scores when set."

Arthur may have been referring to Hashim Amla and J.P. Duminy. Amla made 57 and Duminy scored 41 on Sunday.

South Africa has called up fast bowler Morne Morkel for the last three matches as back-up for left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell, who played in a club match in Port Elizabeth at the weekend after recovering from an ankle injury.

"Wayne bowled six overs in the match. He seemed to come through OK, but we're not 100 percent sure where he is (fitness-wise). We'll have a look at him through the week," Arthur said. "Morne is not a panic call-up. It's going to be a long summer. Morne will be integral at the start of the test series, so we want him to be with the squad."

South Africa and England meet in a four-Test series from next month.

Arthur also said that team management already had 19 players in mind for the 2011 World Cup on the Asian sub-continent. That figure will have to be cut to 15.

"By the end of this series, we will be clearer on where we want to go and on whether the players are the right ones," Arthur said.