Andrew Strauss insists that England will be able to handle the pressure in South Africa and that the players cannot wait for the action to start.

The five-match one-day international series gets underway in Johannesburg on Friday with the hosts a strong favourite at 2/5 to open up with a win, while England are available at 7/4.

The Proteas are looking to end a five-match losing streak against England, with the latest inflicted in at Centurion earlier this year to end South Africa’s participation in the ICC Champions Trophy that they were hosting.

Strauss is fully expecting an aggressive brand of cricket from the hosts, particularly after upsetting Graeme Smith in the aforementioned defeat, but the England captain is confident that his players are mentally prepared.

“South Africa-England games are always competitive; the cricket is always aggressive and in your face,” Strauss said. “This series is going to be no different. We know that – and we’re prepared for it as well.

“All I would say is we’ve tried not to come out with big comments about the opposition – because as we all know, the world is round and these things can come back to haunt you at some stage.

“I think we’re all excited to get out there on the pitch and let the bats do the talking.”

The Twenty20 series was drawn with one win apiece but South Africa are favourites at 3/8 to claim the ODI series, with England, who have a number of injury worries, at 15/8.

Stuart Broad had already been ruled out of the first two one-dayers, with Liam Plunkett called up as cover, and Graeme Swann will now sit out of the first two ODIs, with James Tredwell drafted into the squad.

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