ENGLISH FINISHING SCHOOL FOR BOKS.

Byline: DEAN WILSON 

SOUTH AFRICA captain Graeme Smith has thanked the English county system for improving his young international team-mates.

And he warned England they will face a fight for Somerset's Craig Kieswetter when he becomes eligible to play for his adopted country in February.

Before Smith can get his hands on Kieswetter, 21, who is touring South Africa with England's performance squad later this year, he will show off all-rounder Ryan McLaren, who will line up in the first T20 today.

McLaren, 26, (below) has spent three years at Kent but now that his contract is up he has made the switch back to South Africa.

And after his first onedayers against Zimbabwe last week, McLaren will now face the country that helped make him.

"From a South African and English perspective there are probably a few frustrations over these issues," said Smith.

"But from our perspective for him to have played in England facing the different challenges he has it's almost like an academy.

"Players go there and grow and come back into our system hopefully better players.

"Ryan looks like a player who can add a lot of value to our bowling so it's good to have him back. I would also like to have Craig back, but it is up to him."

For young cricketers the English pound is a major draw, as is the path to international cricket as shown by Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott.

But with the Proteas the No.1 Test team in the world and the IPL able to make up the wages, Smith added: "We want to keep our players here. We want it to be the ultimate to play for South Africa."

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CHEERS South Africa captain Graeme Smith