One into two adds up for rusty England

Cricket

England have been given a generous helping hand in their quest for practice before the second Test against South Africa.

The four-day game against Orange Free State has been split into two contests, which means all 16 England players can be assured of at least one outing on Bloemfontein's Springbok Park.

A three-day game will start tomorrow, with a 50-overs-per-side match scheduled for Sunday. Initially, England had only one game before the Test series resumes in Johannesburg on 30 November.

The new arrangement will also give England the chance to face Allan Donald. The Free State fast bowler had been withdrawn from the four-day fixture by South Africa, who did not want him overworked, but they have agreed to let him play in Sunday's one-day game.

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