Twenty20 Odds – Strong English squad with confidence

Steven Davies: England’s reserve wicketkeeper should Matt Prior fall to injury or gets dragged into the underbrush by a hyena, is allegedly the pick of the keeper/batsmen coming from the Old Dart. Has played 77 First-class matches averaging 37 with the bat and gloved 237 catches. The left-hander will be hoping to get a crack at the Proteas so Prior shouldn’t go falling asleep on the tour bus or he might just find himself cast out beside the road in the middle of the night.

Graham Onions: Debuted against the West Indies this year at Lords claiming 5/38 off 9.3 overs that included four wickets in just seven deliveries, he finished the match with seven scalps. Made life difficult for the Aussies in his second stint against them claiming 4/58 in the drawn Birmingham test. The 27-year-old seamer spent a stint earlier this year playing in Australia for a country team, which probably explains why he is so arrogant.

Kevin Pietersen: Oh boy, what can you say about KP that hasn’t been said before? You could try the following, “KP is a really nice bloke, down to earth, reserved, a pleasure to be around, dignified and certainly not arrogant or self-obsessed at all.” Yep that’ll do it that has certainly never been said about KP. The born again Englishman is the most famous of the South African-born players to don the whites for England and is easily the most reviled and hated. The thing is though, KP thrives on that, he loves being baited by the crowds, taunted by opposition, he’s like a Steve Waugh character. If you want to get him out it is best to ignore him, say nothing because if he gets his back up he is without doubt one of the most dangerous batsmen in world cricket. An Achilles heel injury felled him during the Ashes series so he will make his return to international cricket in this away series. He is already averaging 42.34 in the past 12 months and that’s without playing the seven-match ODI series against Australia and the Champions Trophy. Clobbered a massive 152 in the first Test against the Proteas in 2008 backing that up with a 94 in the third test and 100 in the final test. Will be itching to have a crack at his home country on home soil.

Liam Plunkett: Hasn’t been seen on the international circuit since 2007 so to say he is coming from the wilderness is an understatement. Off field dramas (he was banned for driving for 24 months for a drink driving charge) coupled with poor form meant the 24-year-old fled England for South Africa of all places where he joined the Nashua Dolphins. It’s hard to say why he was selected considering he is a fringe player at best. Maybe it’s because he is already in South Africa meaning the ECB could save an extra plane fare in these dire global economic times.

Matt Prior: Another of the South African brigade to play for the Old Dart further proving that England will take on anyone if they think they can win a cricket match. Prior is a talent, there’s no doubt about it. Has scored 1152 runs this past 12 months including one century. While not as prolific as some wicketkeeper/batsmen, he is outstripping the Kiwis Brendon McCullum (considering he is having a rough trot, that’s not saying a lot). Scored a 42 and 45 against South Africa in the 2008 ODI series.

Adil Rashid: One of those players that England trots out every now and again to prove that county cricket is doing well, all the while bemoaning that so many blow-ins are taking the spots for their own cricketers. Has proven himself at county level, a highlight being an unbeaten 157 against Lancashire this year was made even sweeter when he took 5/97 with his leg spin. I’ll trumpet his success on the international scene when it finally occurs but someone has to wake me when it happens as I won’t be wasting my time with him until then. There are two many cricketers touted by the press these days as future world champions that simply end up on the scrap heap.

Ryan Sidebottom: A not too flattering 12 months for Sideshow Bob with just wickets in his 15 outings. Could struggle on this tour.

Graeme Swann: Is considered to be the best spin option for England. If that is the case, England are in trouble. It’s not that he can’t take a wicket, he can, it just takes a while and he concedes a lot of runs while doing it. He has taken 70 wickets at an average of 29.38 so I can’t be too hard on him. Will be interesting to see how the South African batsmen treat him – with respect or disdain. I’m going for the latter.

Jonathan Trott: The last of the South African born players for England and while the ECB and tabloids are trumpeting the arrival of England’s next great hope, he has yet to prove himself. A cracking 119 against Australia in the final Ashes match was indeed impressive as it was scored under pressure but a tour through South Africa will give us all an indication on where his career is headed. I for one hope he goes on for bigger and better things because he looks to be a decent player.

Luke Wright: An England all-rounder who is more of a batsman than a bowler. Or is he more of a bowler than a batsman? I can’t work it out because his figures show that he is neither despite what the ECB will have you believe. He did score 71 against the Netherlands in the Twenty20 World Cup opener, a game England lost. You may as well apply my comments below about Ireland to this total.

Joe Denly (ODI/T20 ONLY): An opening batsmen who has had some solid returns. Yet to better his 53 against Australia in the ODI at Chester-le-Street but he does look the goods. Okay so he scored 67 against Ireland on debut but my grandmother could score that against the Irish and she’s dead.

Tim Bresnan (ODI/T20 ONLY): Another all-rounder, with less emphasis on the all and more on the batting side of his game. Scored a cracking 80 against Australia at Centurion in the Champions Trophy so his experience on South African pitches may come in handy.

Sajid Mahmood (ODI/T20 ONLY): I was racking my brain when I saw Sajid’s name, thinking that I knew it from somewhere and then BOOM, from nowhere, it came to me. He burst onto the scene in 2006/07, a first change right arm quick with deceptive swing. A chest injury lat year nearly ended his career, which would have been a shame because he knows how to work over a batsman and he certainly knows how to generate pace. Good to see him back although South Africa won’t be as happy.

Eoin Morgan (ODI/T20 ONLY): The Irish one-day specialist was one of England’s stand outs during the Champions Trophy scoring 62 not out against Sri Lanka at Johannesburg and followed that up with a 67 against South Africa at Centurion, which helped knock the hosts from the tournament.