South Africa to crank up the pressure out of form Collingwood and Bell

South Africa are preparing to crank up the pressure on Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell by seeking to target the vulnerable members of the England team in tomorrow's first npower Test.

Mickey Arthur, the South Africa coach, turned up the heat ahead of the eagerly anticipated four-Test series by making it clear that they will attempt to take advantage of any uncertainty in the minds of the underperforming pair.

Under pressure: England's Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood

Collingwood and Bell had disappointing series against New Zealand and, despite finding a semblance of their form in the one-day internationals, both need to make significant contributions at Lord's if they are to cement their places for the rest of the summer.

'We are looking at England's No 5 and No 6 batsmen as weak areas,' said Arthur after rain had restricted South Africa's practice session at Lord's yesterday.

'They are under pressure because the Freddie Flintoff factor lingers over them.

'He's got to come back soon and that means somebody will miss out. In the whole pressure cooker of the Test match there will be one or two little battles going on within the England team and that creates its own pressure and a different dynamic. If we can get into five and six with the ball fairly new that will put us in a very good position.' 

Even though Arthur did not mention Collingwood and Bell by name, it was an articulate statement of intent from the tourists' coach, who went on to express his belief that his side will be coming up against Flintoff sooner rather than later.

'We most certainly expect him back,' said Arthur. 'If you have a world-class performer like Flintoff available then it would be foolish not to select him.

'As well as the English batsmen there will be a bowler with a cloud over him wondering if it might be him who misses out, depending on whether Flintoff comes back as one of a four or five-man England attack.

'I have studied the England pace attack closely and clearly James Anderson is fantastic when it swings, Stuart Broad is pretty similar to him, while Ryan Sidebottom gives them variety and control.

'It's a steady unit but what it lacks is is an out-and-out quick, like a Flintoff, Steve Harmison or even a Simon Jones. Every captain wants someone like that in his armoury. 

Comeback kid: Andrew Flintoff

'We base our attack around five bowlers because we are incredibly lucky to have Jacques Kallis, who gives us balance. We wanted to add three strikers to him and our spinner Paul Harris and that's what we've done. Dale Steyn can swing it in at pace, Makhaya Ntini bowls from a wider angle and Morne Morkel gets unbelievable bounce.

'I said in the past that we will have the best two pace bowlers in the world in Steyn and Morkel in the next couple of years, and Steyn is there already. Morkel will soon join him.'

Psychological warfare, perhaps, but fascinating to listen to. It was left to Broad, the youngest but possibly the most mature member of an England attack that will be selected for a sixth successive Test, to respond.

Broad, 22, promised that England will meet fire with, well, what they have done to earn four victories in six Tests against New Zealand.

'I don't think we need to match their pace and bounce,' said Broad.

'We need to stick with what we've done well in the past. We shouldn't change to try to be something we're not.

'We all bowl around 85mph, which is useful, but, more importantly, we all try to do something with the ball. If we continue to do what we've been successful at I'm sure we'll do well in this series.'