England v South Africa - Summer 2008

Over the next few months England will host South Africa in a four match test series along with five ODI's. Here's my analysis of how things are going to shape up:

Bowling

If you look at the South African bowling attack you will see a wealth of international experience and quality. Makhaya Ntini will probably be at his back-of-a-length-bestwhich from the recent New Zealand Test series has proven to be Englands batting achilles heel, but the worrying prospect is that the SA's are of a far higher quality to that of the New Zealanders. Especially in the swing and seam friendly english conditions.

Along with Ntini the SA's can boast the back up duo of Kallis and Nel who both are high class seamers who again have far greater abilities than that of NZ's bowlers and so I suspect will probably play a greater role than just back-up bowlers.

Leading the SA charge is the brilliance of recent times, World No.2 Dale Steyn who's pace and control will pose a huge threat to the English Batsmen who have succumbed in recent times to such high quality. By this I compare Steyns current performances to that of Glen McGrath and Courtney Walsh who tormented the English with their unrelenting aggression and consistency. England will have to be on top form to contain him.

South Africa's only real bowling weakness is there spin bowling attack in the form of Paul Harris. But even he averages thirty with the ball in tests. This is probably the only area I think England have got the SA's trumped bowling wise. Even though Monty Panesars stats don't show any real difference to Harris's he is more crucially on his day a real match winner for England. Especially if he turns it on against the South Africans who are notoriously bad against quality spin due to lack of exposure at domestic level.

Looking at the English attack they are led by the master of swing Ryan Sidebottom who I believe is Englands key weapon against SA because he has the precious attribute of accuracy which some of the other bowlers lack. This lack of accuracy by the other seamers will In my opinion play straight into the hands of the SA's who are well equipped to deal with any lack of control and punish it.

As for James Anderson we all know by looking at him last month at Trent Bridge he can be brilliant. But his past record shows that he is very much a mood bowler. One day he can take 7/43 and on others he can resemble a Steve Harmison scatter gun! Something I've already said could play into the South Africans hands.

Stuart Broad in my opinion is probably the most overrated player in England. Yes he's young and will improve with age and his batting adds much needed backbone. But his job is primarily that of a bowler and averaging forty in test is unacceptable, I suspect he's going to have bring that average down over the following series or face the chop. I suspect his away swing approach may pose the SA's some problems and so I think he's either going to be very good... or very expensive. 

And as for England backup bowler Paul Collingwood, If he does retain his place which I dont think he will. I doubt his medium pacers will be able to compete with the likes of Kallis and Smith.

Batting

The english batting of the past year has been hit and miss. The likes of Andrew Strauss I suspect wont be too bothered by the pace and bounce but his success will come down to the South Africans lines.

Cook will probably thrive on the pace as well but again his downfall may be the South Africans control. Kevin Pietersen will no doubt relish the chance to smack his old nation South Africa out of the park and he definitely has the tools to do so. His sucess will come down to not getting too involved with the inevitable SA chirping and will have to resist smacking every ball he can. He is a definite threat to the Africans.

Tim Ambrose I think will be out of his depth against the pace of the South Africans but then again, you never know. Its too early in his career to see how he copes but let me put it this way, if he struggles against O'brien Steyn is going to destroy him!

As for the South Africans Graeme Smith who's hit two double hundreds in tests in England will relish the conditions and if England are going to have any success they are going to have to get him early. The same can be said for Mckenzie who's recent re-introduction to tests has been spectacular and will be looking to continue the trend.

HerschelleGibbs will be another tough nut to crack but his flamboyance could be his downfall. Especially if he is pinned down and kept quiet by the likes of Sidebottom, he will more than likely try and break the shackles with a few big hits, and there lies Englands chance. AB Devilliers will probably be the least dangerous of the SA batsmen, this Isn't really talking him down because he's very good but he's still learning his game and may get out playing a few too many adventurous shots. 

The key man for South Africa will no doubt be the techincal brilliance of Jacques Kallis. Averaging 57.14 he is a real world force and I dont think that England have the tools to uproot him once he's in. England will need something special to get him out because otherwise he will simply pile on the runs.

Fielding  

Here the teams are pretty equal but if you look at the individuals South Africa outstrip England. England have the likes of Collingwood but also have proven duffers in the form of Panesar. South Africa have no such problems and can put the likes of AB on the field and have no-one that they can really hide, or want to.

My Prediction: South Africa Win Test Series 2-0

What do you think?