Steve Harmison barely contributed to England's first Test win over South Africa but Graeme Smith may be more worried about the strike bowler's form than Michael Vaughan.
Harmison, who arrived in South Africa as the world's top-ranked bowler, failed to find line, length or rhythm in Port Elizabeth as he completed match figures of one for 142, his worst return in 24 Tests.
His one victim, Jacques Kallis in the first innings, was an important one but even that dismissal was unconvincing, the batsman appearing to lose sight of a full toss which smashed into the base of his off stump.
Harmison, in effect, failed to turn up, just as he did in England's one first-class warm-up match. But it seems inconceivable that the bowler who began his previous tour abroad with seven wickets for 12 runs against West Indies at Sabina Park will go AWOL for the rest of the five-match series.
Durban, South Africa's fastest and bounciest pitch, will suit him perfectly if he can rediscover the in-between length which transformed his fortunes earlier this year in the Caribbean.
South Africa skipper Smith has suggested that the second Test, starting on Sunday, will feature a result wicket.
"When it is prepared with a good covering of grass, it is commonly referred to as the 'green mamba' after the deadly snake," he said.
"We would like pace, bounce and some movement for the seamers. I'm sure England's pace attack would also like that.
"But our best chance of bouncing back into the series is by backing our batsmen against England's and by giving Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini and the other seamers as much to work with as possible."
South Africa are likely to be much stronger and better balanced in the second Test, with opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs rushed back into service following a hand injury and all rounder Kallis set to bowl again. Nicky Boje will also give them a spin option.
SHODDY ENGLAND
But England will be confident of upping their performance as well, Vaughan conceding his side had been "shoddy" during some phases of the first encounter which took their winning run to a record eight matches in a row.
"We're an honest team and we accept that we didn't play to our potential in this match," he said.
"The best thing is that we haven't played to the standards we've set ourselves, but we're still 1-0 up."
England's strength during that winning run has been reflected in six different players claiming man-of-the-match awards. Andrew Strauss, who made 126 and 94 not out at Port Elizabeth, and Graham Thorpe have done so twice.
Eight English batsmen have scored centuries in those eight Tests, while every front-line bowler bar Andrew Flintoff has taken four wickets in an innings at least once.
All rounder Flintoff, however, who like his close friend Harmison had a quiet first Test, has taken three wickets on five separate occasions as well as scoring a big century against New Zealand.
Vaughan will feel a ninth win should be within his grasp if either of his two main match winners, Flintoff and Harmison, find their feet by Sunday.
As Vaughan has said: "With a bowler like Steve you know that sometime in the series he is going to bowl a spell where he will change the game for you."
