Fletcher backs England resolve

Seam bowler Kabir Ali takes a run on the beach as he looks to boost his fitness levels

Coach Duncan Fletcher believes English resolve can overcome South African momentum as they look to peg back the hosts and draw level in the seven-match one-day international series.

Zimbabwean Fletcher has become accustomed to his team fighting back against the odds in recent times.

He knows there will have to be a big improvement in Wednesday's day-nighter, the fifth match of seven, following the 108-run thrashing in Cape Town.

Defeat would end England's hopes of a double tour success after the 2-1 Test victory - the first positive result here for 40 years.

“We have to do what we have done previously and come back from a bad game, show the character of the side again and get back into the series,” said Fletcher.

Durham all-rounder Paul Collingwood puts his all into an England training session

“That character has been with the England side for more than two years now, since the South Africans were over in 2003.

“We were written off in that Test series but came back to draw and most of the time we haven't played well we have followed up with some good performances.”

It has been a mentally and physically draining trip, and England trail 2-1 in the one-day series, but Fletcher is intent on regaining the lead provided by victory in the opening match in Johannesburg.

“Of course it has been a difficult tour,” he said. “You expect that when you play sides like Australia for example.

“When you play the top sides there is going to be quite a lot of stress, quite rightly there should be, and South Africa are a top side.”

Captain Michael Vaughan and Matthew Maynard discuss tactics out in the middle

England might have been expected to pick up another series triumph given South Africa's appalling one-day trot prior to victory in Port Elizabeth last Friday; they had won just once, against Bangladesh, in their previous 14 matches.

Nevertheless, the tourists are test-driving a new batting order in the absence of Andrew Flintoff and have not had attack spearhead Steve Harmison fully fit and in tune to date.

“It always hurts to lose a series whether it be one-day or Test matches,” admitted Fletcher.

“We have made progress, there will always be ups and downs along the line but there have been some real positive signs in this series.

“We used to struggle to bat for a full 50 overs, now we are posting decent totals batting first.

The England players take time out to do football drills during practice on Tuesday

“We have been missing Andrew Flintoff, Michael Vaughan and a fired-up Steve Harmison, bowling to the best of his ability.

“Take out Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis etc from their team and it is different. Things turn around.”

Harmison, who admitted he has fought homesickness again on this tour, misfired on his return at Newlands, his 10 overs costing 65.

But as England's bowler with the most potential for havoc, he could conceivably be retained at Buffalo Park, as he bids to emphasise his commitment to the team's success.

“He did falter in hitting certain zones and we might have to talk about what he needs to look at mentally to hit those zones,” said Fletcher.

“It is not easy for a big man like that and he has been known to wander even in Test matches.

Stephen Harmison bowls against the scenic backdrop of the South African coast

“He has told us he wants to play one-day cricket for England and that is as far as it goes.

“If someone says that, that's it: they have to get out there and perform.

“He was probably the most relaxed he has been on the whole tour leading up to that last game.”

Fletcher has been impressed with the attitude of Kevin Pietersen, who has taken his chance this winter in the face of local hostility.

The 24-year-old, born and raised in South Africa, has played with the confidence to suggest he will cut it at the highest level, having only made his bow against Zimbabwe before Christmas.

“It is very nice to see him like he has been,” said Fletcher. “We spoke about it before the first match that we needed to support him.

Kevin Pietersen has impressed Duncan Fletcher with his attitude during the one-dayers

“We knew both the South African players and the South African public were going to have a go at him, even the scoreboard went against him, which I found very strange, the other night.

“It was interesting to see he has come through that and it hasn't affected him.

“In fact it has probably played right into his hands: it might be what he needs to motivate him, it could be a really good sign for teams we are going to play in the future.

“He likes that sort of challenge - and it is good to see him play so positively.”

Pietersen was only called up as a late addition in early January and has subsequently taken Flintoff's big-hitting role.

It was perhaps his reaction when he dropped a catch, after his first-ball duck against Zimbabwe pre-Christmas, which secured his invitation, given Fletcher's penchant for picking players on character.

“He did not alter his body language at all,” Fletcher reflected.

“He kept clapping, shouting, encouraging and that to me is the right message coming out of the body language.”