Even as the first Test in Centurion is now less than a day away, South Africa are only more aware of the job ahead - beat England comprehensively and topple India from the no.1 position again.
john smit and makhaya ntini
South Africa's most successful black fast bowler, Makhaya Ntini (seen with rugby captain John Smit at the 2010 FIFA World Cup draw), is set to earn his 100th Test cap tomorrow and while he is proud to join the list that includes the Indian coach, Gary Kirsten, Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock and Mark Boucher, he believes South Africa have a job to do.
Ntini is echoing the South African captain Graeme Smith's views as South Africa would like to go back to the top of the ICC Test rankings that India took from them by beating Sri Lanka. South Africa need to beat England by a margin of 2-0 or better in order to do that and the team is well aware of it.
Beaten in the one day series, South Africa have a bone to pick but they would like to look back on the highs of the tour to England when they won the Test series in historic fashion.
Smith continues to try and deflect attention by highlighting the fact that England may have faltered in their thinking by not picking Steve Harmison. But the argument that England have a sameness about them could well apply to South Africa and unless their bowlers can come up with steam, this series may well end up being one of attrition.
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