Whose line is it anyway?

Test series against South Africa must hold special significance for Michael Vaughan. It was against them that he made his debut and first led his country; on tour there in 2004-5 his team established credibility as Ashes contenders. If they are to be again in a year's time, a similar outcome will be necessary, both for momentum to gather behind a hesitant unit and to allow Vaughan to impose himself on a team which, a year into his second stint as captain, still does not truly bear his imprint. Just as he did five years ago, inheriting Nasser Hussain's transient team, Vaughan finds himself in a difficult situation. The pace guns are no longer at his disposal, rather in the hands of an unbeloved opposite number; while the broad bats seem lined up on the South African side.

England find themselves in a curious position naming yet another unchanged squad. As has happened in these series on previous occasions, it seems almost certain reinforcements will need to be drafted in at some later stage; you sense England know it too. Yet propriety ensures they must pick the same bowling attack that did the job against New Zealand, despite the creeping suspicion that the trio of Sidebottom, Anderson and Broad will be overly accommodating to the tourists. Two swing bowlers is one more than is needed for a hot mid-summer; and while Stuart Broad remains more sheep's clothing than wolf, England's seam attack will not worry the best in good conditions. Delaying the return of Andrew Flintoff is sensible; still, the South Africans will surely be relieved to face an attack containing none of Flintoff, Jones, Harmison or Tremlett. They will also fancy themselves against a batting line-up which remains unchanged and brittle. Bearing in mind that the first Test is at Lord's - South Africa's favourite venue in a country where they always seem to start well - all signs point to defeat.

Unless individuals step out of their skins, both in terms of performance and progress, England look set to concede the advantage in a series which is disappointingly no longer a five match rubber. Vaughan should have increased bowling firepower from the second or third Test, which is when England can hope to come into the series. Until then, England have at least one game to prove that there is substance to the cheerful patter which is, just now, the only obvious hallmark of Peter Moores' tenure. South Africa, despite their well-earned reputations as chokers, are not the sort of team which will be cowed by sweet talk.