Stuart Broad is confident England can rise to a red-hot South African challenge this summer, both with bat and ball. Broad was one of the few home players to emerge with credit from a NatWest series defeat by New Zealand, rocketing from 22nd to 12th place in the limited-over international bowling rankings despite being part of a team beaten 3-1.

But, come tomorrow week, England face what could be an even tougher challenge when they start a four-match Test battle against South Africa at Lord's.

Graeme Smith's team sit second only to Australia in the Test standings, are unbeaten in their last seven series and have pace to burn in the shape of 90mph speedsters Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Makhaya Ntini.

Given that England have gone 12 consecutive Tests without totalling 400 in their first innings, South Africa's attack may be scenting blood already. But Broad believes his team-mates will actually relish a trial by pace and reckons the home attack can give a bit back.

"You look through our line-up and they all play the real quicks very well," said the 22-year-old budding all-rounder. "So it's not as though South Africa are going to bully us out. Our batsmen are very talented and skillful against quick bowling. I think it's going to be intriguing to play in and watch.

"We hear a lot about their pace attack, and in the past year they've done fantastically well, but throughout the oneday series against New Zealand our attack has been up around 89 or 90 mph so it's not as if we are bowling throwdowns.

"And I think Monty [Panesar] is a massive advantage for us. At this time of the year the pitches start turning a bit more and I think his spin going to be very dangerous. When it's his day our attack has been very good at realising that, bowling dot balls at one end while Monty gets the wickets at the other.

"South Africa are going to be a great challenge. But we can't look too far away from our Test form; we've won four out of our last five matches and certainly taken steps in the right direction."

There is no doubt which way Broad's career is heading. Having nailed down a place in England's one-day side over the past year, he came though a daunting Test debut on a flat pitch in Colombo six months ago and then grabbed his chance when the selectors decided it was time for a change of direction in New Zealand.

Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison were both dropped at Wellington, leaving Broad and Jimmy Anderson to join Ryan Sidebottom in an attack which has now been unchanged for five matches.

Now, as was the case a couple of months ago, Andrew Flintoff is fighting to get back in the frame following a long battle against injury. But although Broad is the junior member of England's pace trio, don't bank on him being the bowler to make way if and when 'Freddie' returns later this summer.

Broad, whose impressive batting at No8 gives him a second string to his bow, said: "Fred is a world-class performer and has done enough over his career to warrant a place in the side. I think any side in the world would put their hand up to have him."

Whatever the make-up of England's attack at Lord's, they face a South Africa batting unit already full of runs on this tour after making 515 for three against Somerset - even without captain and senior opener Smith, who is nursing a hamstring injury.

"Every Test is massive, but South Africa will be the highest-ranked team I've played against," said Broad. "It's going to be a very big challenge, if I'm selected, and it's something I'm looking forward to.

"They've got some world-class batsmen but we are in good shape as well and we're eager to get going."