Second Test wide open

It seems that the events of the first Test at Lord's have left the bookmakers in a state of confusion with regard to the second Test, which begins at Headingley on Friday. South Africa are 7/4 and the draw is the narrow favourite at 5/4, while England are not too much longer at 11/4.

England dominated the first Test for three days but South Africa's batsmen found form second time round, losing just three wickets in two days as they saved the game, so it will be fascinating to see who has emerged the stronger, mentally.

There is little question that the return of Andrew Flintoff to the England side - surely he will be in the final XI - while it was interesting to see South Africa's assistant coach, Vincent Barnes, admit that his bowlers had been overawed at Lord's.

They will surely be better for the experience, while England's bowlers have to show a bit more variety and plenty of discipline if they are to bowl South Africa out twice, to claim a victory.

South Africa won the last Test the two teams played at Headingley, but I don't think too much should be read into that. It was five years ago and both teams have changed a fair bit. There are unlikely to be any demons lurking within.

That 2003 defeat was one of only two losses in the past eight Tests there, spanning eight years, so England's record is pretty decent, but the make-up of the wicket has changed over the years. What used to be a bowler's paradise has changed into a decent batting wicket, depending a little on the overhead conditions.

In fact, there has been at least one score of 500 or more in four of the past five Tests there, so perhaps the draw is a decent bet, after all, although none of the past eight Tests there have ended in stalemate - this is a result pitch.

Who will pull their weight?
Kevin Pietersen, fresh from another big Lord's hundred, is 3/1 favourite to top-score for England in their first innings. That would seem a decent bet, since not only is he in great form, he has also scored centuries - one a double - in each of his two Tests there.

The rejuvenated Andrew Strauss is 7/2, with his opening partner Alastair Cook 9/2 and Ian Bell, who scored 199 at Lord's, is 4/1, with his captain Michael Vaughan a 5/1 chance. Paul Collingwood, who could miss out as Flintoff returns, is 15/2, with Flintoff himself an 8/1 shot.

For South Africa, Jacques Kallis remains favourite despite two Lord's failures. The man who has scored 30 Test centuries looked to be scratching for form in the first Test but is too classy to be out of the runs for long and bet365 make him 3/1 favourite.

Captain Graeme Smith, fresh from another hundred against England, is 7/2, with Hashim Amla, riding a great wave of form, is 4/1. Another Lord's centurion, Neil McKenzie, is 9/2 while Ashwell Prince and AB De Villiers are both 13/2.

The toss seems pretty important at Headingley. In seven of the eight matches over the past 10 years, the team winning the toss has batted first, and five of them have won. That's a decent ratio.

As I keep saying, there is very little to choose between the two sides, but it would be just like Andrew Flintoff to return with a swagger and inspire England to victory, which, at 13/5, is just about the best value bet.