England play the first match of the five match ODI series against South Africa in Johannesburg today. The Twenty20 series has already been played, with the sides drawing 1-1.

South Africa are favourites to win the match, priced at 2/5, with England priced at 2/1. England have many injury problems, with Stuart Broad definitely missing the first two matches and first choice spinner Graeme Swann also missing.

However, there is also good news for England, with Kevin Pietersen playing his third match since returning from injury, and Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook and Graham Onions all likely to play.

Pietersen, who can expect a rough reception from the South African crowd, is joint favourite to be England’s top batsman with Andrew Strauss. They are priced at 7/2. Next come Cook and Joe Denly at 5/1, followed by Jonathan Trott at 11/2 and Eoin Morgan at 6/1.

Meanwhile South African captain Graeme Smith is favourite to top score for South Africa at 7/2. Jacques Kallis is at the same price, with AB de Villiers next at 4/1. Hashim Amla is next at 9/2.

James Anderson has been nursing a knee injury lately but is still favourite to be England’s best bowler at 2/1. Onions is next at 4/1, ahead of Tim Bresnan and Adil Rashid at 9/2.

Dale Steyn, the top ranked bowler in the world, is favourite to be South Africa’s top bowler at 9/4, followed by Wayne Parnell and Charl Langeveldt at 3/1 and 10/3 respectively.

South Africa lost to England in the last 50 over matches these two sides played, in the ICC Champions Trophy, when England won by 22 runs.

South Africa vs England 1st ODI betting odds

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