Rollings reports from Port Elizabeth

Jordan Rollings, affectionately known as Melman from hit movie Madagascar, reports from Port Elizabeth and gives us an insight as to how the boys are getting in.

Today was a bit of a scattered day. We welcomed Mike Yardy to the first training session of the tour - unfortunately bringing the weather from the UK with him. For the first time on the tour the weather has prevented us from training outdoors. However due to the facilities on offer to us, we managed to fit in a few things.

First thing this morning we had a gym session. This consisted of light exercises - mainly using just the 20 kg bar and focused on stability between the upper and lower body. It was important to take it easy the day before our first game, as we have to be fresh and ready to go come 10:30am.

The boys have progressed really well when given the exercises in the gym since the start of the tour. After getting used to the technique, significant improvements are being shown, except for Peatfield who managed to get so low in his squat today he fell backwards, causing a bit of a mess to the gym area!!!

After the gym session we headed to the pool, where we used it as a regeneration session to stretch and also fit in some much need diving practise. Mainly more for myself, as I have found out, I can't actually dive and therefore until I improve, will find myself at the butt of many jokes!

After a healthy lunch and a little siesta, we set off for our final session of the day at the cricket field, but obviously due to the weather the nets were not in use and therefore we preceded to have the most intense fielding session yet.

My fielding has at times struggled in the past, but this session really showed how the work we have been doing has gone to help us to improve great amounts. I managed to not drop a catch through the whole session and my throws were consistently above the stumps, so hats off to Davo and the team, as I never thought I would have improved that quickly!!

We split up in to two teams. My team consisting on myself, Yards, Mach, Nussy and Dexter. Against Rags, Smithy, Lids, Chadders and Peatfield.

First off was a game of football, which my team won 1-0 – a great finish from mach from the half way line.

Then on to a few slip catches, high catches, cover catches and throwing competition.

Unfortunately my team lost by 4 catches, but I must say one team member would struggle to catch anything out here even a cold (Dexter), but we all left with a good feeling that tomorrow we were in good shape for a win.

So time for an early night.