Tests provide tougher challenge Souce: BBC Sport - 22-07-03 - Neil McKenzie

It's nice to join the team in England after I missed the one-day series with a back injury.

But we are in no doubt about the scale of the task if we are to win our first Test series in England since 1965.

Personally I have had a frustrating time of late; after being left out of the World Cup, I got back in for the tour to Bangladesh and did quite well there and then hurt my back.

Of course I'm confident we will beat England in the Tests but it will be harder than the one-dayers

But this is one of the best tours to go on - it's where cricket originates from and there are always good crowds - so I'm glad to have made half of the trip at least.

The guys were pretty disappointed to lose the one-day series but it has just fuelled the hunger for the Test matches, which are very much on the priority list.

England's Test side is a lot stronger than the one-day team because they've got so much more experience.

I fancied our chances quite highly in the one-day arena. Of course I'm confident we will beat them in the Tests but I think it will be harder.

Alec Stewart has been around for ages, Hussain has got points to prove, Trescothick hasn't had great Test form but he has done nicely since and of course Vaughan is a high quality player.

We will have to go into the opening match without Jacques Kallis, a high-quality player who would be missed from any side.

It is a setback for us but it's also an opportunity for another guy to step in and be counted, and for the whole side to make sure that we're one up, or at least level, in the series when he comes back.

Jacques' absence leaves six batsmen in the squad aiming for five spots.

Herschelle Gibbs has got some runs this week after not being in the best of form and is always a good performer. He is likely to open the batting with Graeme Smith.

Gary Kirsten brings that extra experience into the camp.

And Jaques Rudolph hit 222 in his debut Test against Bangladesh (compared to my average of nine in my first three against Sri Lanka).

So that leaves just me and Boeta Dippenaar. He also did well in Bangladesh and has scored a few runs already on tour but it depends how the selectors look at it - I'm not sure.

This is my first time at Edgbaston but it was home for Shaun Pollock during his time in county cricket.

Allan Donald is around and there are several South Africans in the Warwickshire side so it is good to have guys who can tell us what to expect going in.

A lot will depend on the weather, and there has been a bit of drizzle around.

It won't take too much spin so it is just a case of finding the right line and length, as always on English wickets.

I've been in the country about 10 days and it has been non-stop so far with playing, travelling and training, although we managed to go out for a few beers on Monday night.

If we start off with a good win perhaps we'll get to see a bit more of Birmingham and have a bigger night out.