England vs South Africa

After a huge first test defeat England must try strike back against South Africa, can they level the series at Headingley?

It has been two years since Headingley last held a test and three years since a Test featuring England. South Africa are 85/40 (Stan James) to land the result that will secure them the series and that number one slot in the world rankings. The tourists will be full of confidence after beating England by an innings and 12 runs last time and have won on their last two visits to Headingley. England are 9/4 (betfred/BetVictor) to bounce back and level the series. The hosts have won six of their last ten matches at this venue and will be desperate to put right the horrors of the first test. Headingley is a venue that produces results with none of the last 12 tests at the ground finishing drawn. Bookmakers make the draw the favourite this time at 8/5 (bet365) with the weather forecasting rain for at least some part of four of the five days. If you wish to wish to remove the threat of the draw then some bookmakers are offering ‘draw no bet’ options. ladbrokes and Bodog go 10/11 South Africa while England are 10/11 (paddy Power/ladbrokes/Bodog).

Hashim Amla did the damage with the bat after the first test putting on 311 not out and he is 7/2 (ladbrokes) joint favourite to be top South African batsman in the second test. Jacques Kalis also is 7/2 (general) while captain Graeme Smith is a 4/1 (general) hope. A B De Villiers could be the one to side with, he put on 174 last time he was at Headingley and he is 11/2 (bet365) to top score here.

Of the English batsman Kevin Pietersen has one of the best records at Headingley, grabbing two centuries from his last four test matches here. KP is 9/2 (general) to be the top scoring batsman, but it seems hard to side with KP when his form is a little off. Pietersen has just gone on to make two centuries from his last eighteen test innings. James Taylor is likely to step in for the missing Ravi Bopara and ladbrokes make him 10/1 to be top scoring Englishman. Alastair Cook is the 7/2 (general) favourite, while Jonathan Trott is 4/1 (Skybet/ladbrokes/Coral), Andrew Strauss needs a strong Captain innings and is a 9/2 (general) hope.

English bowlers had a torrid time in the first test and will hope that the showers and the more seam friendly pitch will offer the chance to take more wickets. James Anderson is the 9/4 favourite (boylesports/Coral) to be top England bowler. Stuart Broad is a 3/1 (general) chance, while Graeme Swann is 4/1 (general). It might pay to keep an eye on the team news, because if Steven Finn gets the nod to start ahead of Tim Bresnan then he looks one to watch. Former Australian captain Ian Chappell is among those who thinks the time is right to replace Bresnan with Finn. Finn is currently available at 7/2 (general).

Dale Steyn heads the market to finish as top South African bowler after taking seven wickets in the first test. Steyn is a 9/4 (general) hope. Morne Morkel (100/30-Stan James) took five wickets in the first test (including the key wickets of Strauss, Trott and Pietersen). Both bowlers arrive on form and have a good record at Headingley taking wickets last time they were here. Vernon Philander should benefit from the seam friendly conditions at Headingley and he is a 11/4 (general) shot.

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02/08/2012     © Frixo 2026