England batsmen backed to outshine South Africans
17/07/2012
England's batsmen should make more runs than South Africa's in the upcoming Test series, which starts this week.
This is the view of former England captain Alex Stewart, who singled out the returning Ravi Bopara as the one player in the home side with much to prove.
He told BBC Sport that the difference between the sides is likely to be Alastair Cook outscoring his opposite number Alviro Petersen and Matt Prior making more runs at seven than J.P Duminy.
Duminy is likely to play because of A.B De Villiers taking the wicketkeeping gloves vacated by Mark Boucher and Stewart - who spent most of his international career behind the stumps - said he may find combining the role of keeper and key batsman hard.
Fans booking Lord's Test hospitality packages may be optimistic that Stewart's prediction - a narrow series win for England - will be fulfilled.
Both sides will field formidable pace bowling attacks, but South Africa's strength in depth may be limited after Marchant De Lange was forced to go home with a stress fracture in his back, with Albie Morkel drafted in as a replacement.
By Keith Prowse
