London, Nov 11 (ANI): A strong demand is being made to include Test and 50-over captain Andrew Strauss in the T20 team ahead of a crucial Friday match against the Proteas, after England produced a dismal batting performance just when this tour appeared to be going so well.

England was out for just 89 and lost by four wickets to South Africa A in their final practice match before Friday’s Twenty20 clash against the senior Proteas team.

England will be desperate to get Kevin Pietersen, who arrived in Johannesburg yesterday, into the team as soon as possible. But he will not be fit until next week at least, and the start of the five-match 50-over series, as he continues his recovery from an Achilles operation.

There was worse news for England when the management revealed that Stuart Broad is out of the two Twenty20 internationals.

T20 skipper Paul Collingwood said: “Straussy has made a decision that he doesn’t want to play Twenty20 cricket. I suppose he could have to play if we had more injuries and were down to the bare bones. But that’s very unlikely.”

“I’m hoping this match is just a blip. We’ve done a lot of good stuff so far on this tour. Twenty20 is a different format but you’re never going to win any game when you lose seven wickets for 18 runs,” The Sun quoted him, as saying.

“We probably went too hard for a bigger total when 120 or 130 might have been enough,’ Collingwodd added. (ANI)