A high-tech new media company based in Johannesburg has revealed that the South African cricket squad are benefiting from cutting-edge technology designed to use the IPL as virtual net practice for the Proteas' upcoming tour of England.

Normally, cricketers would have 'nets' which traditionally everyone criticises as a poor substitute for practice in the middle. South African cricket, it seems, has taken the concept of middle practice to its logical extreme. They have sourced high-tech video conferencing technology to ensure the IPL can be exploited to its maximum as preparation for successful tours of England and Australia during South Africa's 'Dream Season' in 2008.

'Smith is under Shane Warne's wing at the Rajasthan Royals and this mid-season injection, many believe, is exactly what the Proteas need'


The Proteas have had their players at Boot Camp IPL in India, where Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Mark Boucher, Jacques Kallis and others have been using the IPL as valuable middle practice.

The high-tech company has explained that they had been contracted to supply Smith with a virtual changing room where he can conference call the rest of his squad spread around India and the world along with Proteas' coach Mickey Arthur.

The $5m investment in technology is seen as strategic and testimony to the focus of the squad during 2008 which many punters are labelling the Proteas' dream season with the ICC throne as its goal.

With this in mind, the Proteas squad are intensively focused on the job at hand and the IPL is being exploited to its maximum, with the aid of technology, to ensure the South Africans will be primed for their English conquest en route to a predicted upset in Australia later this year.

Smith is under Shane Warne's wing at the Rajasthan Royals and this mid-season injection, many believe, is exactly what the Proteas need.

When South Africa become the number one in the world after vanquishing England and Australia in 2008, they will have completed an unrivalled sweep through, Pakistan, New Zealand, West Indies, Bangladesh, India, England and Australia.

As ICC ODI number one, the Proteas have redefined cricket intensity and will be remembered and probably unmatched for decades to come.