Gentlemen, Choose Your Weapons

It seems hard to think that it is now three years since England famous Ashes triumph in 2005. Those hazy days of England’s fantastic bowling unit tearing the Aussies to shreds and runs flowing from English bats do seem a long way away now. Since that amazing summer, England have won just four out of the ten series they have played in, including a 5-0 whitewash to Australia themselves.

The team has been torn apart by injuries, built back up, torn apart again by bad form and now re-shaped in a new mould. Is the success still there? Hardly, but back to back series wins against New Zealand have raised an inkling of hope. Prior to that famous Australia series, England passed a real test of their credentials by defeating South Africa. Now, with exactly 12 months until Australia arrive on these shores, England face another crucial and challenging series with the South African’s. But this time, the Saffers look like favourites.

Spearheaded by the world’s number one fast bowler Dale Steyn and runs machines such as Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis, South Africa go into Thursday’s First Test at Lord’s looking like an immensely strong team. And, England’s performances of late have been unconvincing. Yet, they are still winning, which is possibly the sign of a champion team. Who knows. What we do know is that if England can win this exceptionally hard series, then they will be a great deal more confident about the prospect of taking those Ashes back from Ricky Ponting next summer.

Can England win it? A lot has been made about the South African attack and its potential to destroy the fragile England batting line-up. Dale Steyn is a formidable bowler, a great deal different from the young speedster who debuted against England in that previously mentioned series. Fast, skiddy and with the ability to swing it late, Steyn is a lethal weapon at the moment and cannot be underestimated. He is complemented by the pace and experience of Makhaya Ntini. He has over 300 Test wickets to his name and has had plenty of success against England in the past. Morne Morkel, at over 6ft, will generate huge bounce and add into the bargain the spin of Paul Harris and you have a great looking attack.

The South African’s also have a potentially powerhouse batting order. The last time Graeme Smith toured England he scored double hundreds in his first two tests - he has the ability to make huge runs. Jacques Kallis is the key to the order. If England can shut him down, then they can potentially shut down the South Africans. Once Kallis gets going, there is often little stopping him, as shown by his three centuries the last time these two teams met. Hashim Amla is also is fantastic form with hundreds in both warm up games. There is the class and exuberance of AB DeVilliers and the experience and guile of Ashwell Prince and Marc Boucher. South Africa could post some huge totals if they get their heads down .

So what is going to stop them? England’s attack is good but inexperienced. The leader of the attack, Ryan Sidebottom, has only been playing Test cricket for a year. However, when he gets it right he is close to perfect. He swings it late, he comes from an awkward angle and, best of all, all underneath a blanket of suffocating accuracy. He wasn’t always at his best against New Zealand and England will need him to fire. Especially if James Anderson isn’t. When the conditions suit him, Anderson is absolutely world class. At Trent Bridge against New Zealand, he was unplayable, taking career best figures. However, when things aren’t with him he tends to go around the park.

England will also hope that exciting pace prodigy Stuart Broad can continue his progress in the international arena. Broad’s ability with the bat appears to have overshadowed his bowling slightly of late but do not underestimate him. He is very accurate and bowls at a lively pace too. He is still learning but he gets better with every series and he could be the surprise package if the South African’s underestimate him. And there’s always Monty Panesar to make thing interesting. Panesar will be expected to out bowl his counterpart, Paul Harris and he will look to out-fox the tourists, some of whom do not have experience playing spin.

England’s batting is worrying. Andrew Strauss aside, they do not appear in the best form and are prone to a collapse or five. However, the talent is there and the SA attack will provide a stern test of their skills. Michael Vaughan (right)generally performs when it matters and Alastair Cook simply needs to convert one fifty into a hundred to get back on his feet. Kevin Pietersen has a brilliance to succeed and Tim Ambrose looks to be competent to judge the situation well and perform. The big question marks are over Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell. Bell has fantastic technique and looks a more gifted batsman than Collingwood, who has plenty of mental toughness and character. However, the abuse he has received since the recent one day series with New Zealand may trouble his head and if he gets out cheaply a few times, his confidence could suffer and England may see him as a liability.

Lining the two sides up against each other makes this series look fascinating. They look so evenly matched it is difficult to firmly predict a winner. However, the fragility of England’s batting makes me think the South African’s will pinch this four match series. The return of Andrew Flintoff would greatly help England’s cause and here are hopes he could return for the second Test.

SA look more capable of winning this one but I’m not backing against England entirely. It seems that, in the noblest of English traditions, when their backs are against the wall, they come out fighting. They are at their best when under the most pressure and I can only hope they will prove me and a lot of people wrong.

Anyone for a Cook double hundred at Lords? Anyone? Please?