Despite their failings in the one-day game, England managed to beat New Zealand in the Test series thanks to some magnificent hitting from Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Strauss while James Anderson took 15 wickets from four New Zealand innings and Monty Panesar taking seven wickets from the second test at Old Trafford. England, who are currently ranked just ahead of South Africa in third place, achieved that feat.

England’s Test side boast a consistency that their ODI team can only dream of. The squad includes the 12 players that defeated New Zealand in March and June (minus Andrew Flintoff to continue his return from injury). It’s good to see that the selectors are acting in the best interests for the whole squad, and while Flintoff will be disappointed not to be recalled, getting back to the form he showed with England back in 2005 has to be his priority.

 Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison are both back from injury and playing county cricket too, yet also find themselves frozen out of the international set-up, which you wouldn’t have seen happen just a couple of years ago when they were spearheading the England attack. England are undoubtedly a better side with a fully-fit Flintoff available, but despite his efforts for Lancashire, the selectors don’t feel he has played enough yet to warrant a return.

 Captain Michael Vaughan is having more problems with a troubled right knee and could struggle in the opening match against the South Africans, and if he does, he could also be a doubt for the second match, with Flintoff replacing him. Elsewhere, Tim Ambrose is still suspect behind the wicket in ODIs and will have to give a solid performance with the bat to ensure he earns a place for the rest of series. For me, Phil Mustard at Durham and Matt Prior at Sussex are more consistent with the bat.

England are more than capable of winning the series against South Africa, but I fully expect Graeme Smith’s side to offer more of a test than New Zealand. Their confidence is high after their warm-up games with all of their top order scoring runs well, including a 190-run partnership between Hashim Amla and Ashwell Prince. It’s difficult to forget Smith’s amazing 277 at Edgbaston and 259 at Lord’s in 2003.

But Smith could be the weak link in the top order for South Africa in the opening match – his only recent batting coming in the Indian Premier League for the Rajasthan Royals before suffering a hamstring tear in the semi-finals. But when fit, you can never write him off.