Vaughan hails skilful seamers

Michael Vaughan is backing England’s multi-dimensional attack to be more effective than South Africa’s pace battery and seal a crucial series victory.

England enter tomorrow’s opening npower Test at Lord’s with the focus very much on the opposition and the ability of Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn to bowl in excess of 90mph.

Captain Vaughan would no doubt like that sort of pace at his disposal when the four-Test series gets under way, but until England are ready to welcome back all-rounder Andrew Flintoff they are without the express pace of their opponents.

Instead, they are relying on the swing, seam and guile of left-armer Ryan Sidebottom backed up by James Anderson and Stuart Broad with Monty Panesar providing the spin option after England named an unchanged side for a record sixth successive Test.

It is an attack which may not have quite the pace or hostility that South Africa possess, but Vaughan believes their greater adaptability could prove crucial during four intense matches against tourists who are now rated as the number two Test side in the world.

“It’s a series I think we can win. We’re on home soil and I think conditions can favour the style of bowlers we have,” said Vaughan.

Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Ryan Sidebottom will lead the England attack

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“They do have an abundance of pace, which is nice to have, but I believe we’ve got a set of bowlers who are skilful and Ryan Sidebottom has caused every batsman he’s come across in the last year problems.

“We also saw how Jimmy Anderson got better and better throughout the Test series against New Zealand and Stuart Broad really bowls well beyond his years.

"We’re developing into a skilful attack and over the next few weeks we’re all going to be tested, both batters and bowlers.”

Successive series triumphs over New Zealand have lifted England’s spirits after a difficult year during which they lost in Sri Lanka and at home to India last summer, while South Africa have won six of their last seven series and are unbeaten in the last 12 months.

But Vaughan senses the added expectancy surrounding the series could spur his side on as they attempt to build momentum for the winter tour to India and next summer’s home Ashes series.

“I always think the South Africa series is nearly up there with the Ashes,” he said. “You obviously don’t have a little urn to play for, but it’s always a really big series for the guys to play in.

“It’s always a hard-fought contest, very tough and what Test cricket is all about - getting out there and testing yourself against some tough opposition.

“When I see the players they seem very excited about coming up against this challenge and over the next five weeks we’re going to find out whether we have developed into a good Test team.”

Michael Vaughan is hoping the arrival of South Africa will inspire Kevin Pietersen once more

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The 2003 series was notable for the strained relations between the sides, but players on both sides have been quick to stress that winning will be the overriding motivational factor.

“I have no doubt that when we play South Africa there will be confrontations,” admitted Vaughan. “It’s a proper Test match series and that’s what everyone wants to see.

“We obviously want to play within the spirit of the game but I think that’s why playing South Africa and playing against Australia becomes very good on the eye for the spectators because you see a real contest.”

Over the years this series has included Allan Donald’s memorable contest with Michael Atherton at Trent Bridge in 1998, the dirt in the pocket affair four years previously and England’s stunning collapse to two for four at the Wanderers in Johannesburg in 1999.

There was also England’s tour of South Africa in 2004-5, when Kevin Pietersen - playing against the country of his birth - was inspired to score three centuries in six innings in the one-day series.

“I’m hoping he’ll react the same way he did when he played one-day cricket against them in South Africa,” said Vaughan. “He had a fantastic series, probably his best ever one-day series, and Kevin is a wonderful player who seems to like the spotlight and the big occasion.

“This is a big series, he’s done well against pacier bowling in the past and I’m looking for him to have a really good series. He looks like he’s got that little glint in his eye to go on and get big scores and hopefully he’ll do that.”