South Africa to stomp all over England

After the posturing of the Twenty20s, the games begin for real between South Africa and England with the first of five one-day internationals on Friday. Injuries to a couple of key players have rocked England's plans and South Africa will be determined to make a fast start and then keep their foot down on the accelerator from there on.

Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad will miss at least the first two matches and that is bad news for England for they are each more than handy all-round performers.

Of course, England are a pretty poor one-day side as a rule, but with Kevin Pietersen back and Jonathan Trott establishing himself as a classy player, the batting looks far better than usual, even if Alastair Cook still seems to stick out like a sore thumb at the top of the order.

The absence of Swann and Broad will have a big impact for Saj Mahmood is absolutely out of his depth.

South Africa, by contrast, have no injury problems of note and on home soil, with their tails up after the Twenty20s, they are likely to be formidable opponents.

Bet365 make them 4/11 to win the match, with England 11/5 and quite frankly, I'd be amazed if the home side lost this first match. England have enough about them to pinch the odd game in this series, perhaps two - as expressed in the outright preview - but they lack consistency and still have not figured out modern-day one-day cricket.

Smith the man to beat
It looks like Jacques Kallis will open the batting with his captain, Graeme Smith, which is a pretty impressive opening partnership, even if Kallis is vulnerable early on. Bet365 make Kallis 3/1 to top-score for his side, but the 5/2 on Smith is a better price if his efforts in the second Twenty20 are any kind of barometer on his form.

If the openers fail, then the likes of AB De Villiers and JP Duminy come into their own. Hashim Amla and De Villiers are both 4/1, with Duminy 5/1. Behind them, messrs Morkel at 11/1 and veteran Mark Boucher, at 12/1, are always dangerous, but Smith is the obvious choice.

While we're on the openers, the 8/11 on South Africa to outscore England for the first-wicket partnership is a very generous price. Cook just doesn't attack enough to get enough runs at the top.

Pietersen is favourite for England at 3/1 but captain Andrew Strauss, who is still in great form, is perhaps better value at 7/2. Trott is 4/1, Joe Denly 9/2 and Cook 5/1. Eoin Morgan is 6/1, with Paul Collingwood 13/2 and Matt Prior, who should be opening the batting, 10/1.