England batsmen in for torrid time

SPEED, hostility and pain. That’s what’s coming England’s way when they start their four-Test series against South Africa at Lord’s tomorrow.

Not since Pakistan’s Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis landed on these shores has a pace attack from an overseas touring team threatened to wreak such havoc.

And here’s why . . .

Spearheading the Proteas attack is Dale Steyn, who has jacked up his pace in the last 12 months and has been clocked at a rapid 97mph.

Then there is Morne Morkel at a very tasty 94mph.

And if that’s not enough, Makhaya Ntini is hardly a slowcoach at 92mph.

Ironically, England’s greatest series success of recent times, the 2005 defeat of the mighty Australians, was built around a pace strategy.

Then we had Freddie Flintoff, Simon Jones and Steve Harmison hurling the cricket ball down at speeds in excess of 90mph - and the Aussie batsmen did not like it one bit.

IMPACT

I have a feeling that England’s finest are going to suffer in similar fashion, not only with their batting averages, but their bodies, too.

So if our strategists and groundsmen have got any sense they will provide slow wickets and hope that swing merchants such as Ryan Sidebottom and Jimmy Anderson can make an impact.

Don’t hold your breath, though, as we have such a sense of fair play in this country that the last thing we tend to do is prepare a wicket for the benefit of our cricket team.

England have one huge advantage on the bowling front. Monty Panesar is vastly superior to rival spinner Paul Harris and, if we can stay in the Tests during the first innings, his magic might just be enough to sway the series in our direction.

But that’s a big if. In my view, South Africa have a stronger batting line-up, their wicket-keeper/batsman, Mark Boucher, is in a different league to Tim Ambrose, and their fielding is vastly superior, too.

It doesn’t sound good for us, does it? And the bookies share my view, making the Proteas evens to win the series, with England on 2-1 and the draw at 7-2.

The big hitters will be on South Africa at that price, but let’s have a go at 2-1 for the series at a juicy 11-2 as I believe England will nick a Test and that the great English summer – or lack of it – will mean one of the games will fall victim to the downpours we have been experiencing during the last two months.

The top batsmen/bowlers markets offer only a little in the way of value.

That said, Ladbrokes have gone out on a limb by making Ian Bell 8-1 to be top scorer for the hosts.

That’s just too big about a quality player, even though he does have an irritating penchant for throwing his wicket away when set.

Jacques Kallis, a man who prizes his wicket like few others in the game, is a deserved 5-2 favourite to top the South Africa lists.

Steyn is 6-5 to be the leading wicket taker for the tourists, but while I would not want to oppose him, anyone who bowls at his sort of speed is always prone to breaking down, so this is a market to leave alone.

Ryan Sidebottom tops the England lists at 2-1, but I get the impression batsmen are starting to work him out and, if I were to have a bet in this market, Panesar would be my choice at 3-1 with Ladbrokes.

The same firm have framed a market based on the number of centuries England’s batsmen will score. They go 4-6 three to five inclusive, 9-4 none to two, and 7-2 six or over.

Bearing in mind it’s almost a year since England scored 400 runs in a first innings, the middle choice looks huge value as you have rain and the failings of an overrated top order on your side.