Hosts look to ride the momentum

South Africa so nearly got the better of England in the first Test last week and now head into the second Test at Kingsmead in Durban hoping that they can carry the momentum through to taking a 1-0 lead in the four-Test series.

As ever after a close finish, when one side is so close to winning and the other survives by the thickness of a thread, it will be fascinating to see how each team respond.

South Africa can either be hugely buoyed by almost pulling off a win, out of nowhere, or the frustration will produce a downer in their attitude. England should be lifted by their escape but then they could be deflated by the fact that they even found themselves in that situation having been coasting midway through the final day.

The way Graeme Smith and the South Africans are, I don't think they will have a downer. They had the better of the match at Centurion and only a great effort from Graeme Swann, with ball and bat, stopped them from running away with it early on.

If they have Dale Steyn back in their ranks - and the fast man is 50-50 as I write - their attack will be that much more potent, while they will also hope that Jacques Kallis is fit to bowl, offering them more balance. Interestingly, Friedel de Wet, who so nearly won it for the home side at Centurion, will be the man to make way should Steyn return.

England will be tempted to add a bowler to their ranks as taking 20 wickets seems to be the problem, which would mean bad news for Ian Bell, but they will probably stick with the same side in the end.

Bet365 make the draw the narrow favourite at 6/5, while South Africa are 13/8 and England are 10/3.

For England to win, they will have to do something few other teams have done of late by winning at Kingsmead. It's more than a decade since South Africa lost a Test there to anyone other than Australia and although England went close in 2004, the home side are definitely comfortable on that ground.

England have, though, become resilient once more and that is an excellent sign for these two teams are so well matched that really you could make a good case for any of the three results being likely.

Captain Graeme Smith (who averages just 32 at Kingsmead) is next at 7/2, while Hashim Amla (16) and AB De Villiers (58) are both 4/1. Ashwell Prince, who has scored two centuries in four Tests in Durban and averages 55, is 9/2, while JP Duminy is 13/2.

Kevin Pietersen got himself in the runs in the second innings at Centurion, before his needless run-out, and he is 3/1 favourite to top-score in England's first innings. Captain Andrew Strauss is 7/2, while the impressive Jonathan Trott - who looks like he was born to play Test cricket - is next at 4/1.

Alastair Cook, who still looks a little vulnerable to me and definitely needs runs, is 5/1, while Paul Collingwood is 11/2 and Bell, whose place is in doubt, is 17/2, with Matt Prior 12/1.

Of the other match markets, Graeme Swann was England's top wicket-taker in the first innings at Centurion and he is 10/3 to repeat the feat at Kingsmead. Considering that none of the seamers are on their absolute top form, yet, that could be a good price, though James Anderson remains favourite at 9/4. Steyn, fitness permitting, is 7/4 to top the list for South Africa.

Interestingly, nine of South Africa's 13 wins on this ground have come when they have won the toss, though there does not seem to be too much of an advantage in batting first or second. There may well be something in it for the bowlers on the first day, but the pitch clearly holds up well because the average runs scored per batsmen is at its highest in the final innings of the match.

However, a long spell of wet, humid weather in Durban has changed things somewhat and the swing bowlers could be licking their lips at the prospect of receiving some help from the conditions for a change.

If the rain stays away long enough, there ought to be a result but I still wouldn't be surprised if it ends in another draw.