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On current form and throughout recent history, there is very little to choose between South Africa and England when it comes to Test cricket. Historically, since the Proteas were readmitted to Test cricket after the abolition of apartheid 30 year ago, South Africa have won 10 matches to England’s nine with 13 drawn. In seven Test series, that amounts to three wins for the home side, two for the tourists and two series which ended all-square. All of which suggests that Andrew Strauss and his team are way overpriced at 5-2 on the Draw No Bet line (William Hill) to triumph in the latest four-match head-to-head which gets under way at Centurion next week. South Africa have recently forfeited their number one ranking in the five-day game to India and their recent loss to England in the one-day series underlined why they must be considered a risky bet at 4-6 with skybet, blue square and 888sport for the upcoming series. I’ve no qualms with the top end of the home side’s batting, indeed Graeme Smith is a world-class opener and Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers will give him ample support. But recognised all-rounder Jacques Kallis may not be fully fit until the Third Test, while Alvaro Pietersen and Ryan McLaren lack experience. The Proteas‘ real problems are in the bowling department, however. While England come into this series with James Anderson, Graham Onions and Graeme Swann firing on all cylinders, South Africa are still over-reliant on the ageing Makhaya Ntini to take wickets. Plenty of shrewd judges have expressed that the veteran is past his best as he approaches a century of Test caps and a back up of youngsters Wayne Parnell, Friedel de Wet and an injury-prone Dale Steyn shouldn’t have the England batsmen quaking in their boots. I’ll admit I’d have like to have seen Kevin Pietersen have had more time at the crease lately, but Strauss, Alistair Cook and Jonathan Trott have all looked in good nick with the bat for England, as has Paul Collingwood. As long as the tourists keep their heads, it’s hard to see South Africa taking 20 wickets in a match given their current line-up but, that said, this is England we are talking about and they are more than capable of a major wobble when none is envisaged. With that in mind, have a bit of the 7-1 for a 1-1 series score with Ladbrokes. A drawn series can be backed at a general 7-2.