Graeme Smith Captain's Squad: South Africa in England '08—Profiles, Part 3

Here is the final part of my look at South Africa's touring squad for the Test match series beginning in July.

Paul Harris: Have South Africa finally found a spinner of some class? Harris has made a decent start to his Test career, and has made the spinner's slot his own (although that is not saying very much!). With 38 wickets in 13 matches, many of those against accomplished players of spin in the subcontinent, he looks the part at Test level.

However, given the strength of South Africa's pace bowling lineup, he will find it difficult to secure a place on this tour, as most likely they will opt to go with four frontline seamers. Should he get a game however, he certainly has the ability to cause England problems, as 27 wickets in 9 matches in the last year shows.

13 Tests: 116 runs @ 7.25, 38 wickets @ 30.76 (1 x 5W)

Last 12 months: 9 matches: 90 runs @ 9.00, 27 wickets @ 31.66 (1 x 5W)

Dale Steyn: In Dale Steyn, South Africa have unearthed a bowler not seen in a Proteas shirt since the days of Alan Donald. His rise has come at the right time as well, coinciding with the retirement of Shaun Pollock, and they seem to have found a player of genuine class. He tops the ICC world rankings for fast bowlers, ahead of Stuart Clark and Brett Lee - no mean feat in itself, as well as being the fastest South African to 100 Test wickets.

If he can find form in England, his new ball partnership with Makhaya Ntini is likely to cause the English batsman considerable trouble - in 23 matches bowling together, they have 209 Test wickets between them, an average of over 9 wickets per match.

In the last year, Steyn has been a phenomenal force in world cricket, with 78 wickets at 16 apiece. Even more amazing is that his strike rate is 28.9 - better than a wicket every 5 overs. England had better watch out!

Did I mention he's only 25?

23 Tests: 206 runs @ 9.80, 120 wickets @ 21.60 (8 x 5W, 2 x 10W)

Last 12 months: 12 matches: 126 runs @ 12.60, 78 wickets @ 16.24 (6 x 5W,  2 x 10W)

Andre Nel: Nel has been recalled to the Test squad after being left out in the cold for the tour of India due to South Africa's controversial policy of having six coloured players in their touring squads. He has a good Test record, with 119 wickets in 34 matches and his unusual front-on action is likely to be spotted in this Test series as he will probably line up as one of four seamers.

A big-hearted cricketer, Nel has had a moderate year for South Africa. As in the one-day game, he has not been a regular in the side, having only played 34 Tests and 75 ODIs since making his international debut in 2001. He can provide some resistance with the bat.

34 Tests: 330 runs @ 10.31, 119 wickets @ 31.22 (3 x 5W, 1 x 10W)

Last 12 months: 7 matches: 130 runs @ 16.25, 22 wickets @ 31.50

Makhaya Ntini: Ntini seems to have been around for ever. A stalwart for South Africa in the last ten years, he is second only to Shaun Pollock on the list of all-time wicket takers for them, having recently overtaken Alan Donald. He bowls with genuine pace, often from wide of the crease, tucking batsmen up and making him difficult to get away.

He has struggled a little bit in the last couple of years, but he continues to run in and bowl over after over, and is slowly regaining the form he found earlier in his career, although he hasn't had a five-for in the last year to show for it.

His record against England is quite impressive, with 52 wickets in 12 matches - including ten wickets at Lords in 2003. It will be quite disconcerting for England's batmen to have to face Steyn and Ntini at once, and if Ntini fires, he could make matters very difficult for them indeed.

87 Tests: 627 runs @ 9.79, 344 wickets @ 27.85 (17 x 5W, 4 x 10W)

Last 12 months: 12 matches: 8 runs @ 4.00, 36 wickets @ 31.05

Monde Zondeki: Although he perennially seems to carry drinks for South Africa, Zondeki has been unlucky with injuries throughout his international career so far. He will find it difficult to break into the side on this tour, as he hasn't played a Test match in three years, and whilst his record so far isn't bad (16 wickets in 5 Tests), Steyn and Morkel have both jumped ahead of him in the pecking order.

A more than useful backup however, and England will know that he can bat as well, as he made 59 against them on debut at Headingly in 2003. Likely to be waterboy, although an injury to one of the seamers could well see him step in.

5 Tests: 82 runs @ 20.50, 16 wickets @ 27.37 (1 X 5W)

Last 12 months: N/A

That concludes my look at the South African touring side.

Part 1 can be viewed here

Part 2 can be viewed here