Tossing away the series hurts Souce: BBC Sport - 09-09-03 - Neil McKenzie

We are all flying back to South Africa on Tuesday night but we are still hurting inside.

At one point, we were in such a commanding position at The Oval before throwing it away.

We are happy to go home now because it's been a long trip but I've really enjoyed my stay here at the home of circket.

We are in there to fight and put in good-spirited performances and I think we managed that.

If Herschelle had gone on just slightly we couldn't have really lost the Test

The English guys played unbelievably at The Oval but in every Test match you have little turning points in the game.

I think the turning-point came when we were cruising to a great score on the first day and Herschelle Gibbs threw his wicket away two overs before the new ball and with 10 overs to go in the day.

He was finding batting really easy. He was on 180, and had done so well to get us into a good position. If he had gone on just slightly we couldn't have really lost the Test.

As for our second innings, people have to realise that one of our things is to be positive in defence and attack.

Herschelle went for a wide one, Graeme Smith went lbw - I don't think the guys were playing huge, huge shots to get out we were just playing under pressure and pressure took its toll.

Before the Tests we were worried about Andrew Flintoff even if his stats did not look that impressive.

He plays one way. He gives the ball a hit and can get England out of trouble quite quickly because while he's there he's scoring runs at a good pace.

He has certainly exceeded expectations with a good hundred, a 90 and a couple of good fifties.

On a personal note, it was nice to get fit enough to get back into the side for the final three Tests but I would like to have converted that 90 into a hundred at Trent Bridge.

Obviously I would also have liked to have cashed in on a good wicket at The Oval.

I am averaging 30-odd but would like to get up to 40. I am not unhappy about it but there's a lot of room for improvement.

I've been here for two long months. My girlfriend was over with me in the UK so it wasn't too bad for me but we only have 10 days at home and then we are off to Pakistan.

It's not a lot a lot chance for rest but I'm sure some of the guys will turn that 10 days into a month.

We trust our cricket board if they say it's safe enough to tour Pakistan. I think they have taken the necessary precautions.

I have never been to Pakistan. They have not been in the greatest of form of late but I saw Inzamam-ul-Haq is back and scoring runs.

I am sure it will be a hard-fought series against them.