Lion cub keeps Prior and KP on their toes

Johannesburg, Nov.19 (ANI): A playful lion cub kept both Matt Prior and Kevin Pietersen on their toes as England's cricketers visited the Johannesburg Lion Park on a day off ahead of Thursday's first one-day international

The England team were told to expect some serious mind games this winter by South African coach Mickey Arthur.

Arthur has already launched an assault on England's "predictable" tactics.

He has branded the England team's treatment of spin bowler Adil Rashid as "criminal", and quipped that with Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott at the crease, there were 15 South Africans on the field.

He insists that there is much more to come.

Arthur says mind games are a legitimate tactic in the highly charged world of elite sport and claims to know which England players to target.

With the 50-over series beginning tomorrow, Arthur said: "I saw one of our fast bowlers having lunch with Jonathan Trott a couple of days before the Twenty20 matches. That's great, they can be mates. But I thought the series started a bit too friendly, so we upped the voltage on Sunday."

"We want to be as tough as nails but play within the rules. We played good, hard cricket in England last year. There was a bit of niggle but it was great," The Sun quoted him as saying further.

Arthur was approached for the England job earlier this year but has a long-term deal with South Africa. So now, he is doing his best to get under England's skins. (ANI)