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Surrey 560 (Ansari 106, Burke 79, Wilson 72, Durston 6-113) lead Derbyshire 313 by 247 runs
ScorecardZafar Ansari recorded the least-slow hundred of his first-class career•Getty Images

First-class cricket is the most meritocratic of sports. Played as it is over a matter of days, the best team will win, or at the very least dominate proceedings, more often than not. There is charm to such an egalitarian contest perhaps unmatched by any other sport. Quality will out.And so it was on day three at the Kia Oval as Surrey’s skill finally supplanted Derbyshire’s stoic resistance to take charge of this match. A day that began with the possibility of Derbyshire perhaps forcing a first-innings lead ended with them trailing by 247 runs after Surrey plundered 560.It was not that Derbyshire played particularly badly, although they did miss chances in the field, rather Surrey, specifically Zafar Ansari and James Burke, simply played very well. Having taken 4 for 61 in the first innings, Ansari’s typically obdurate 106 will only further intensify the growing calls for his international selection.After his four wickets came on a first-day pitch under cloudy skies, Ansari continued to confound conditions and challenges on day three by scoring his runs in spite of a turning pitch and a probing Derbyshire bowling attack. Although it was the fastest of Ansari’s three Championship centuries, to say so would be misleading; coming as it did off 213 balls, least slow would be more appropriate. His runs were earned as much as they were scored.On 21 not out overnight, Ansari was unflappable in the face of bowling that tempted temptation, but he refused to be drawn outside off stump, leaving with obsessive compulsion and defending with exaggerated due diligence. Boundaries – he accumulated ten – were as surprising as they were risk-free and never once did Ansari’s survival feel threatened.His 230-ball innings was made up of 168 dot balls – the equivalent to 28 maidens. It doesn’t take a man with a Cambridge degree like Ansari to decipher so many dots as essentially morse code for: I’m not going anywhere, you’re not going to bore me out, I’m going to keep batting. And keep batting he did. Through drinks, through lunch, through drinks, and through tea before he was finally dismissed by a quicker ball that skidded on from Wes Durston and trapped him lbw.Surrey’s brilliance extended beyond merely the anaesthetising blade of Ansari however. Indeed, the day began with comparatively reckless abandon as Gary Wilson struck six fours in the first eight overs to race past fifty before Mark Footitt found his edge to end a sprightly innings of 72. While Ansari will seize the headlines, and rightly so, Wilson’s contribution to Surrey’s day three riposte should not be forgotten or undervalued. Nor too should the contribution of Burke, who registered his highest first-class score in an innings of great maturity.Having trailed Derbyshire by 141 at 172 for 5 on day two, Ansari, Wilson and Burke put on 257 for the next two wickets. It took a tired Derbyshire attack a further 100 minutes, costing them 131 runs, to take the final three wickets as the Curran brothers and Gareth Batty smashed the ball around in the evening session. All Surrey’s batsmen reached double figures and their final five wickets reaped 388 runs.Despite never bowling terribly, the threat provided by Derbyshire naturally dissipated as the day wore on. Although the pitch took considerable turn and bounce, legspinner Matt Critchley, at just 19 years old, could hardly be expected to spin Derbyshire through Surrey’s middle-order, while nor could Durston, whose six wickets were not so much taken as they were received through sheer weight of overs. That he did finish with six is indicative of the challenge Derbyshire will face against Batty and Ansari on the fourth day.While day one and day two of this match exhibited the depth of the challenge presented by county cricket, day three showed the fine margins between those who succeed and those who do not. Patience was that margin. Surrey, in Ansari and Burke in particular, had it and with limited bowling options Derbyshire could do little but wait for the misery to end.

Thomas Rew, Somerset’s highly rated wicketkeeper-batter, will captain England at the forthcoming Under-19 World Cup, to be played in Zimbabwe and Namibia in January and February.Rew, 18, missed the recent tour of the West Indies, where England Under-19s were beaten 5-2, due to his involvement with England Lions in Australia. He made his first-class debut in the Lions’ game against Australia A earlier this month, making scores of 19 and 47, having played for Somerset during the summer while still 17.Thomas is the younger brother of James Rew, another wicketkeeper-batter, who was part of the Lions tour – though Thomas was preferred to take the gloves at Allan Border Field. He broke the record for the fastest England U19s century with a 73-ball effort against India in June.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Nottinghamshire offspinner Farhan Ahmed – younger brother of England international Rehan – will be vice-captain, having led the side in the Caribbean. The rest of the 15-player squad is largely the same, with uncapped Leicestershire left-arm spinner Ali Farooq the only new inclusion for the World Cup.”This is an amazing opportunity for the players we have selected to not only wear an England shirt at a World Cup but also to go out and try and do something special,” England U19s head coach, Mike Yardy, said.Related

• Thomas Rew's blistering century helps England U19s level series with India

• Simbarashe Mudzengerere named captain of Zimbabwe Under-19 for home World Cup

• Scotland call up Thaker and Tekale for men's Under-19 World Cup

• Farhan Yousaf to lead Pakistan at Under-19 World Cup

“We have a balanced squad with a core group of players who already have county experience and who have developed a camaraderie while playing together for the U19s that will serve them well during the tournament.”I really want the players to enjoy the opportunity to play at a World Cup, in a beautiful country like Zimbabwe, and to embrace the chance to compete against different countries and show their quality.”England are in Group C with Pakistan, Scotland and hosts, Zimbabwe, at the Under-19 World Cup. They will begin their campaign against Pakistan at the Takashinga Sports Club in Harare’s on January 16.England Men’s Under-19 World Cup squad: Thomas Rew (capt), Farhan Ahmed, Ralphie Albert, Ben Dawkins, Caleb Falconer, Ali Farooq, Alex French, Alex Green, Luke Hands, Manny Lumsden, Ben Mayes, James Minto, Isaac Mohammed, Joe Moores, Sebastian Morgan

ScorecardA bristling 54 from Maurice Ouma and a fearless 34 from Lameck Onyango, who remained unbeaten at the end, took Kenya to a three-wicket win over Bermuda in the second one-dayer at the Gymkhana. Encouragingly, Bermuda fought harder this time after their dismal effort in the first ODI and the game was not without incident, but they nevertheless face a 3-0 whitewash going into the final match tomorrow.Irvine Romaine, the Bermuda captain, called a halt to play while Kenya were chasing down 184 when a section of the crowd began chanting “policeman”. Four minutes were wasted while Romaine was appeased by the umpires, Buddhi Pradhan from Nepal and the South African, Ian Howell, together with Mike Proctor the match referee. The crowd’s target, Dwayne Leverock – a policeman back home – seemed far less bothered by the kafuffle.Romaine was Bermuda’s mainstay in their underwhelming total of 183, grinding out a laborious 61 from 131 balls. Thomas Odoyo broke through the top-order to finish with the remarkably miserly figures of 3 for 7 from seven overs.Given his team-mates propensity for collapses, Romaine’s anchor-like innings was all the more valuable – though Janeiro Tucker gave Bermuda a hurry-up with a more adventurous 49 from 71. Malachi Jones also cracked three leg-side sixes in his bristling 27.Kenya got off to a barnstorming start to their reply with Ouma creaming Jones twice through the covers and picking him off through mid-on for three consecutive fours. He lost partners at regular intervals, however, and when Steve Tikolo – playing in his 100th ODI – was bowled by Rodney Trott, Kenya were slipping at 113 for 4. Thomas Odoyo was trapped in front by Kevin Hurdle who then ran out Nehemiah Odhiambo, leaving Kenya in further trouble at 183 for 7.But Onyango waited patiently for the bad balls, flicking Hurdle for consecutive fours down to fine-leg, to take Kenya home. The third and final ODI is on Sunday.

Rahul Dravid was a downcast man after the embarrassing 157-run defeat atKingsmead, admitting that his team just wasn’t good enough in the face ofsome hostile and accurate fast bowling from South Africa’s quintet. From62 for 2, the downward spiral was spectacular and brief, with Andre Neland Jacques Kallis picking up 7 for 16 between them.Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni accounted for 67 ofthose runs, and Dravid was forced to admit later that the India’s fortuneson this tour may well rest on his and Tendulkar’s shoulders. “We are theexperienced players of the team; we are the ones who have been herebefore,” he said. “We’re pretty disappointed not to have put up a bettershow with the bat after we did well to restrict them to 248.”The bowling effort had been full of promise, with the runs kept downdespite a marvellous century from Jacques Kallis. “There were some goodsigns with the ball and some positives came out of our bowling,” he said.”I was pretty happy with the way the boys performed in the first half ofthe game. But we were just not good enough with the bat.”With Shaun Pollock bowling a superb opening spell, South Africa got theearly breakthrough they needed to defend 248, and once Charl Langeveldtand Nel produced beautiful deliveries to get rid of Dravid and Tendulkar,the descent into hell was mercifully quick. “Probably, our shot selectionagainst some of the fast bowlers is something we need to look at andreassess when we go into the next match,” said Dravid. “We will bedefinitely looking to perform much better with the bat. We have toimprove from here and put in some better performances if we want tocompetitive in the series.”This was India’s 13th one-day defeat in 17 games against South Africa inthese climes, and Dravid accepted that it would take an almighty effort toturn things around. “It’s going to be a challenge,” he said. “That’s whereyour ability and character are tested. And if you can come out of a tourlike this with some good scores and runs, it will give you a lot ofconfidence.”We will have to play better. After going through how we got out, we willhave to learn. I must say that the South Africans bowled well, and we didnot have a good day.”After a nightmarish start to the tour, he can only take consolation in thefact that it can’t get any worse. Or will it?

Courtney Walsh and Michael Holding, bowling greats, differ on the chances of the West Indies making a fist of their three-Test cricket series against Australia, set to begin at Brisbane on Thursday.Walsh, till recently a wicket-taking world record-holder in Tests, believes the West Indies can spring a surprise by winning a Test in Australia, something they haven’t done since February 1997. “Definitely, I think the way they’ve started (the tour) would have given them a lot of confidence,” he said on Tuesday. “It’s the first time this team has played together in about two or three tours because of politics (over sponsorship).”These guys have a chance to gel here, and I’m sure that they’re going to play some good consistent cricket. They’re up against the best team. It’s going to be hard but if you want to make a mark you’ve got to play against the best.”Holding, another former West Indies great, disagrees and forecasts that the Caribbean tourists will be drubbed 3-0 by Ricky Ponting’s side, determined to prove they are still world cricket’s top team after losing the Ashes to England last September. “People don’t like to hear the truth, but this group does not possess the right attitude to win Test matches,” Holding said.”I’m concerned about their general focus. They aren’t focused on their game enough. They aren’t focused on representing the Windies enough.”The West Windies are the last touring team to win a series in Australia, winning 2-1 in 1992-93, but they were spanked 5-0 by the Australians on their last visit down under in 2000-01. The one-time powerhouse of world cricket have fallen on hard times and are looking to recapture lost glory under the coaching of Australian Bennett King, who went to the Caribbean last year with the pedigree of having coached Queensland and the Australian Cricket Academy. “I think you’ll see a change in their fortunes sometime, but certainly it’s quite young in their development,” King said.The Windies had the better of Queensland in the warm-up four-day tour match at Brisbane last weekend. Marlon Samuels was the stand-out with his highest first-class score of 257 and a best return of five wickets.The Caribbean tourists have a formidable battery of quicks in Jermaine Lawson (50 wickets in 12 Tests), Fidel Edwards (45 wickets in 17 Tests) and Tino Best (26 wickets in 12 Tests). Walsh likes what he sees in Edwards, a 23-year-old from Barbados. “He could be a handful if he can get things right,” Walsh said. “He swings the ball away and he’s got some good pace.”Australia will have a Test debutant this week when Mike Hussey opens the innings with Matthew Hayden, after Justin Langer pulled out with a broken rib. No Australian ever has made more first-class runs (15,313 runs at 52.8) before making his Test debut.

The West Indies Cricket Board is reportedly in a mess over its handling of player contracts and payments, against the backdrop of a complication between its new sponsor, Digicel, and its former sponsor of 20 years, Cable & Wireless, according to an article on the Caribbeancricket.com website.It is claimed that in 2003, Cable & Wireless signed an endorsement contract with Brian Lara, and later signed several other players, all with the Board’s co-operation. When the new deal was struck with Digicel, the Board then sought to buy out the deals through the retainer contracts negotiated with the West Indies Players’ Association.According to the website, “Two weeks ago, the board did an about-face on the agreed-upon buyout … One can only assume that they failed to get Digicel’s buy-in for their buy-out, and the new sponsor applied some pressure on the board to prevent its newly acquired rights from being diluted by the Cable & Wireless players. C&W, not surprisingly, is standing by its endorsement deals with those players and is not about to give them up.”It has led to an awkward situation, involving the Board, the players’ association, Digicel and C&W, with neither of the sponsors seemingly willing to back down. Whatever the outcome, it’s the players – particularly those with C&W contracts – who seem to be at risk the most.

Pakistan’s start in the Bank Alfalah Cup could best be described as absolute brilliance one day then a shoddy performance the next. Back-to-back matches against two quality oppositions are never easy, but it was really some masterful swing bowling by the Kiwis in helpful conditions that undid them on Sunday.Against Sri Lanka the Pakistan young guns proved their victory in Sharjah was not merely good luck but they had the capability to pulverize the full strength hosts in their own backyard. A cautious start laid the platform for a decent score, which in the end proved to be more than enough under the conditions.The Rangiri Dambulla ground was certainly not up to par for ODI cricket, with conditions tilted towards the bowlers, and shot-making rather difficult. Even though Hafeez and Faisal Iqbal weathered the early storm, their performance in the middle overs left a lot to be desired. Caution is understandable against the swinging new ball, but both showed little intent even against the second string Sri Lankan spinners. A lot of work is still needed to perfect the art of rotating strike, to make sure they don’t pressurize the likes of Youhana and Younis Khan when they come in after.Pakistan’s bowling and fielding in the opening match could be called brilliant, with Shoaib Akhtar proving he isn’t a spent force by any means. However, I believe they are committing a tactical blunder, when it comes to handing Shoaib the new ball, and bringing Umar Gul in as first change. Umar is a seam bowler very much in the mould of the great McGrath, and is not as potent when he operates first change. The seam is worn by then and since he lacks pace, gets taken for runs as was the case against New Zealand.With Umar and Razzaq operating in the middle overs there is very little pressure on opposition batsmen and they can stabilize the innings. Pakistan would do better to let Umar partner Sami with the new ball and have Shoaib come in to attack on one end, while Razzaq does the hold up job.If they do want to persist with Shoaib Akhtar opening, then it is better to drop Umar Gul for Kaneria, to provide greater variety. The pitches in the second round in Colombo are likely to be slow turners, unlike the moist ‘seamers’ at Dambulla, so Kaneria could prove very useful.The Pakistan batting may have done reasonably against the Sri Lankan attack, but failed when they encountered New Zealand’s top quality pace attack under similar conditions. For the first time the youngsters were up against a quality attack and wilted under some trying conditions unable to cope with swing and seam. I shudder to think what will happen during their England tour unless they learn to cope with such wickets.Problems exposed need to be addressed immediately, they could not handle the swing of Shane Bond who beat them on almost every ball of his opening spell. Only Younis Khan displayed an adequate technique in countering his sharp inswing.Faisal Iqbal looked quite ordinary, and it may be time for either Faisal Athar or Yasir Hameed to get a chance in the next match.Youhana got out to very loose shots in both matches, and must be made to realize he is the cornerstone of Pakistan’s batting line-up, and must cut down on some of the flair he is so well known for.Taufeeq Umar was a little disappointing, after having done all the hard work weathering the new ball attack he got out to a very loose shot. Taufeeq looks in reasonable form but has a terrible habit of giving it away when well set. He is a naturally defensive player who takes his time, and must realize that playing aggressive shots is not his job. He needs to stay out there, rotate strike and allow the stroke makers in the line-up to play around him. Instead, he seems to suddenly feel pressure when the going is tough and in trying to emulate a Saeed Anwar, starts playing risky shots.The defeat to New Zealand should not lead to wholesale changes, or cries to bring back more experienced players, but does offer the team a chance to reflect on their mistakes and strategy. Young players will only learn if they get a chance to play the best bowlers in the world, and cannot be expected to massacre them at first sight, especially when conditions are as difficult as in Dambulla.Hopefully, we will see a much improved effort under the batsmen friendly conditions in Colombo.Ed: If readers wish to correspond with the author, please email Taha Noor

The remarkable Andy Flower hit yet another fifty as Zimbabwe declared theirinnings closed at 419 against South Africa just before the close of thethird day at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. However, only some unusuallygood or bad play by one of the teams can bring about a result in this matchon a benign pitch.Play began 30 minutes early in an effort to make up for lost time after thecomplete washout of the second day’s play. The weather was still overcastbut at least the strong frigid wind had gone; by lunchtime the sky wasfinally clear again. Hamilton Masakadza and Stuart Carlisle, the batsmen inpossession, played positively from the start. Masakadza had just hooked Nelsuperbly for four when he drove at a leg-cutter from the same bowler, to becaught at the wicket by Mark Boucher for 13.Flower began as if he had been batting all week – which he virtuallyhad – taking just eight balls to reach double figures. It took over an hourbefore Claude Henderson was given a belated bowl, and immediately he got theball to turn sharply. Carlisle, struggling against the spin, became almosta sleeping partner, contributing only 12 runs when the fifty partnershipcame up, as Flower again held court. He scored mainly through well-judgedpushes and nudges through gaps in the field, but when South Africa finallydecided to bowl very straight at him, as he entered the forties, theymanaged to restrict his scoring temporarily.Yet another fifty, his 12th in his last 15 innings, came off 79 balls. Oneunusual aspect of it was his faulty running between wickets, normally verygood, but in this session he had four narrow escapes, the third only becauseMark Boucher dropped the ball as he swept the bails off.Flower fell soon after lunch for 67 in uncharacteristic fashion: hequite misjudged a ball from Henderson that kicked viciously off the pitch,and lobbed up off the glove to give silly mid-off the easiest of catches.Zimbabwe were 261 for four.Grant Flower, with several unsuccessful Tests behind him, obviously decidedthat there was nothing to lose by being positive, and was soon catching upCarlisle, who occasionally surprised with a sparkling stroke, such as aswept six off Henderson when he was 40. Then came a mix-up in mid-pitch,which resulted in Flower (44) slipping and failing to beat the throw fromJacques Kallis; 327 for five.Carlisle failed to reach his fifty, adjudged lbw to Pollock for 49 off 201balls, although the camera seemed to reveal a thin inside edge. Althoughthe slow pitch and the now heavy outfield made scoring difficult, hisinnings was slower than Zimbabwe would have liked, with time at a premium.Heath Streak scored a single off his first 24 balls before he suddenlyhammered Henderson for six into the top of the sightscreen. Guy Whittall on8 appeared to be brilliantly caught by Pollock at slip of Henderson, butumpire John Hampshire called for decision by camera, which was inconclusive,leading to a decision of “not out”. Streak went on to record a powerful 31before skying Henderson into the off-side field. Without addition Whittall(16), who never really settled, was caught attempting a reverse sweep atHenderson; Zimbabwe 377 for eight.Paul Strang hit brightly on his return to Test cricket, mainly throughpulling the short balls, and the 400 came up in the 176th over. Shaun Pollockmoved a ball back in to bowl Travis Friend (4), the first batsman of the innings tofail to reach double figures. Streak declared shortly afterwards withZimbabwe 419 for nine; Strang was unbeaten with 38 off 28 balls, with twosixes and four fours. Henderson bowled 66 overs in the innings, a recordagainst Zimbabwe, including an unbroken spell of 38 overs at one stage,conceding 143 runs (29 off his last three overs) and taking four wickets.The South African openers found little difficulty in the Zimbabwean paceattack, and after seven overs Streak brought on Strang, and then RaymondPrice. Price came very close to dismissing Gary Kirsten lbw, but the batsmenheld out until the close, when Herschelle Gibbs had 15 and Kirsten 11.

ScorecardJames Vince, seen here in England Lions action, made his first Championship century of the summer•Getty Images

James Vince notched his maiden LV= County Championship century of the season before the bowlers lead Hampshire well on the way to a crushing victory at the Ageas Bowl. Captain Vince amassed 1525 runs last season and seemed on the brink of an international call-up but bar three figures in a university match he has struggled in red ball cricket.His ton was followed up by a team effort with the ball as Liam Dawson and Fidel Edwards both snatched two each with Hampshire needing four wickets on the final day for their maiden home win of the season.Vince, with batting partner Michael Carberry, began the day as they ended the previous in glorious touch – the pair amassing 180 for the second wicket. Both went past 50, Vince in 105 balls and Carberry in 120 deliveries – with the former smashing a six over midwicket – as the hosts scored quickly.

Hampshire in false position – Brown

Warwickshire director of cricket Dougie Brown said: “If we’re totally honest we have been short in both disciplines, bat and ball. With the ball we have tried really hard but they have outplayed us.
“This game shows where the Division One Championship is at the minute: there are a lot of good teams. The position Hampshire are in in the Championship belittles their ability.”

The partnership was ended out of nowhere when England and Ireland international Boyd Rankin found an edge before Tim Ambrose pulled off an eye-catching catch behind – Carberry departing for 91, his second dismissal in the 90s this season. Will Smith came and west for two before lunch with a loose cut shot – another bowled Rankin, caught Ambrose.After lunch, Vince reached his lavish century from 170 balls – which included 11 fours and a six. Vince and Gatting scored quickly putting on 79 runs in 9.5 overs before the former called the sides off to give Warwickshire almost five sessions to either chase 444 or find a draw.And the quest to avoid defeat started badly when Varun Chopra was leg before to a Gareth Berg ball which nipped back and stayed low. Laurie Evans was then bowled by Jackson Bird – the ball pinging back the batsman’s off peg for a duck – and Jonathan Trott’s continued a horrendous week against Hampshire by departing lbw for 5. Wickets continued as Sam Hain was leg before to first innings star Edwards.Ian Westwood provided a minuscule of personal delight with his fourth fifty of the season – from 108 balls – but the next ball he looped a push to Will Smith at short leg. Former Test duo Tim Ambrose and Rikki Clarke delivered some resistance in the twilight with a sixth wicket stand of 64.Clarke became the second Warwickshire player to reach 50 in the match, coming in 55 balls, and brought up with a clanging pull in front of square. Wicketkeeper Ambrose prodded to Vince at first slip off the West Indian Edwards – as he ended the day with figures of 2 for 25, Dawson 2 for 34.

Trevor Bayliss, the England coach, has sought to reassure his top-order batsmen that their modest displays in the victory over South Africa will not necessarily lead to their exclusion from the Test side that takes on Sri Lanka in England in May.But Bayliss has conceded that, with batsmen unable to cement their positions in the team, “there are possibilities” for players in domestic cricket who start the County Championship season well.Alex Hales and Nick Compton both contributed just one half-century each during the four-Test series against South Africa. But Bayliss saw enough in each of them to retain faith that they could prove valuable players for England, though possibly in different batting positions.Certainly he retains faith in the natural talent of Hales – a key member of the limited-overs squads – and feels that Compton will find greater consistency once he relaxes in the England environment. And while Hales looked vulnerable outside off stump, Bayliss felt some technical work – and perhaps a move down the order – could help him flourish in Test cricket.

Bayliss on…

Kevin Pietersen’s World T20 hopes
“I’ve been concentrating on the guys in the squad. We’ve done pretty well over the last six or seven matches. I don’t think there is any real need to change it at this stage.”
Jonny Bairstow
“He would be more disappointed with missing catches than his team-mates. Anyone who misses a chance feels a little embarrassed. They know how hard their team-mates are working to get the edge. I know he is disappointed. We like to enjoy each other’s success but we must stand by our mates as well when things don’t quite go our way. Everyone who has played the game has some bad days and disappointed your team-mates at certain times. It is just the way it is. So certainly there are some challenges for Jonny but at different times his keeping was very good. And he was starting to look like he belonged as a batter.”
Moeen Ali
“I’m reasonably happy with his spin bowling. Again, he’s a work in progress. On his day, he puts a lot on the ball and gets good spin and good bounce. Probably at times, he lacks a little bit of consistency in length more than anything. It just makes it a little bit easier for the batters to get off strike. That’s something he is aware of and trying to improve on all the time. If you take out the absolute superstars, most spinners became good spinners when they were 30 years old. He is improving since I first saw him.”
Defeat at Centurion
“There’s still a lot of hard work to do and that performance is a bit of a reminder. It was a bit of a kick up the backside to the players that we still have a lot of hard work in front of us. And it is also a message to the fans not to get too far ahead of ourselves. We’re going to go through a few difficult periods as well and disappoint, not just themselves but also the legion of fans. But have confidence that they are working very hard to rectify that. I still think we are probably two or three years away from reaching our absolute best.”

“Hales is one of the guys who will be disappointed with how he’s gone in this series,” Bayliss said. “I thought the first couple of games, even though he didn’t score a lot of runs in Durban, he looked quite comfortable at the crease and like he belonged.”He’s one of those guys who has shown what he can do at this level. So it’s about knocking off a few of those rough edges. Whether it is as an opener or somewhere else in the order, he is certainly a guy with a lot of talent.”Swapping Compton and Hales is one of those possibilities. Compton has done the job before and I think Hales has batted at No.3 before. That is certainly an option and has been spoken about in the past.”Bayliss admitted there had “been glimpses” of the intensity that that did not always endear Compton to all his colleagues, but suggested he looked “very solid” at times early in the series. And while Compton – perhaps scarred by his previous experiences in the England environment – has seemed somewhat unnerved by talk around his relatively sedate pace of play, Bayliss suggested he should not feel any pressure to change his natural game.”Early in the series, I thought he looked very solid,” Bayliss said. “Yes, he played a few more shots than I thought he would. Whether that’s any different to what he has done in the past, I’m not sure.”Hopefully, he’s not confused with what his role in the team is. He and Alastair Cook are very much blokes the rest of the order can bat around. So if he approaches it his natural way and scores 80, 90 or 100 or more, the rest of the attacking players can bat around him.”I think there were a few glimpses of that intensity. But a few of the coaching staff and people I’ve been talking to were saying that change in him since the first time he played for England was very noticeable. So hopefully he is relaxing as he gets a little older to give himself the best opportunity to succeed. He is trying to do whatever he can and certainly some of the signs were pretty good.”With neither man – or James Taylor, who also made a single fifty in the series – having made an irrepressible case for their continued selection, though, Bayliss said he would be watching the early weeks of the county season with interest. Given England’s almost relentless schedule, and the fact that he was appointed mid-way through last year, Bayliss has seen very little of the talent available in the county game, but did take the opportunity to watch England Lions team training a couple of times while he was in the UAE.”The players we have in South Africa are the best players we have at home,” he said. “But I think it is also a sign to everyone else in county cricket that, if I come out and score runs early in the season, there are possibilities there.”So when I watch county cricket, it will be a little bit with a view towards current selection and a little bit about looking towards the future. From my point of view, it is not necessarily about technique and the number of runs scored. It is the style of player or person. It’s about guys that have got a bit about them, guys who are a little bit tougher.”They always seem to be the guys that can make it at the top level. You don’t necessarily have to have the best technique to score runs or take wickets. It’s how you use the technique that you’ve got and being hard enough and strong enough and smart enough to be able to use that in the right context.”I’ll certainly be making an effort to watch some cricket and start to understand a bit more about the English game.”