They will. South Africa are very confident going in to the series, you get the feeling that they truly believe they are the better side, which they probaby are. England have been quietly confident. There have been a few 'hopefully's' knocking about.

This morning will be fascinating and despite England's appalling record here against South Africa it offers Michael Vaughan's side their best chance. South Africa's preparation has been limited because of the weather and the must be short of match practice. The grass nets at Lord's are still pristine - not a foot has been set on them this week because of the weather. England will havew been affected too but they have two months of cricket behind them - more to fall back on.

If England win the toss bowl and bowl well they coud take control of the Test on the first day.

Stephen, Test match teams should bat first if the conditions demand it, not because it is the way cricket should be played. My old club captain thought that, batting every time he won the toss and it cost us lots of games.

I am looking forward to watching South Africa's bowlers bowl. A lot has been written about them and it will be interesting to see if they live up to their billing. Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel have litte experience of bowling at Lord's and it will be interesting to see how they cope with the slope.

Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook have plenty of experience here and it will be needed. I met Strauss earlier in the week and asked him what Morkel was like. 'Very interesting' was his reply, which implied he is difficult to face. Here goes.

Yes you do get used to the slope. You adapt to it automatically after a while. At first you just bowl and then it dawns on you that, say from the Pavilion End, you are bowling too straight and keep getting worked to fine leg for one or two. Over a period of time you learn the line to bowl and switch in to it.

The slope is a huge advantage if you bowl well, a nightmare if you are out of sorts because everything is exaggerated. Many think that an away swing bowler should bow from the Nursery End using the slope to help his away movement. I disagree. If a bowler can move the ball up the slope it has far greater affect because it goes against what the batsman is thinking. Dale Steyn should bowl at the Pavilion End and Makhaya Ntini the Nursery but I bet they don't.

South Africa in a huddle with Smith giving his side one last talking to. Out come Strauss and Cook to loud applause - here we go. Vaughan was right playing SA is second to Australia. That's hope this series is as good as previous one's, which overall have been the most exciting and closely fought England have played in. The suns out, hopefully it will remain like this.

South Africa in a huddle with Smith giving his side one last talking to. Out come Strauss and Cook to loud applause - here we go. Vaughan was right playing SA is second to Australia. That's hope this series is as good as previous one's, which overall have been the most exciting and closely fought England have played in. The suns out, hopefully it will remain like this.