While South Africa do not boast a single batsman with a Test average over 40, England have two in captain Alec Stewart and his Surrey team mate Graham Thorpe.

At the other end of the pitch, South Africa have, in Donald a man with more than 200 Test wickets at an average of 22.45. His partner Shaun Pollock has claimed 73 victims in 21 Tests at an average of 23.42.

Neither Angus Fraser nor Darren Gough can catch those figures.

Fraser is not a natural strike bowler though many countries would be grateful for his services at first-change but a record of 146 wickets at 27.40 in 38 Tests reflects tireless loyalty and persistence.

Gough, though explosive and exciting, has never shown the consistency in his 21 Tests that is required to win over the course of five Tests. Eighty-five wickets at a cost of 28.25 isadequate, but throw several serious injuries into the equation and doubts surface.

After the new ball attack South Africa also seem to have the edge. Lance Klusener's occasional waywardness is off set by a remarkable big-match temperament which saw him take eight for 64 in front of 80,000 people in Calcutta and Hansie Cronje and Jacques Kallis are both capable of forcing a breakthrough.

England must hope that the recalled Dominic Cork, like Gough can regain his best form immediately after a season of physical and emotional problems.

Though Stewart and Thorpe's class as batsmen is without doubt, opener Mark Butcher is seen as a potential weak link and both Nasser Hussain and Mark Ramprakash are thought to be vulnerable to the pressures of a `run-drought', a South African speciality. Long periods of suffocating accuracy, backed up by razor-sharp fielding, have camouflaged South Africa's shortage of top order runs against every country except Australia, the only nation to have beaten them since 1992.