South Africa v England first Test: Mike Atherton's guide to Durban

First up is the traditional Boxing Day Test in Durban, where conditions on the east coast often deem the coin toss important and the thunderous atmosphere is rarely restricted to the skies.

The changeable surface makes it daunting for visiting batsman given the home side's rich tradition of aggressive pacemen. "It's called the Green Mamba because the ball snakes around all over the place," Mike Atherton, chief cricket correspondent of The Times and Sky Sports cricket expert, says.

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Stuart Broad, who took six wickets at Kingsmead five years ago as the hosts were humbled for 133 in the second innings, will also charge in full of expectation, but the decision on whether this is a green-top to suit seam or if swing will prosper in a humid climate should be delayed as long as possible.

"When we played there in 1995, I changed the attack completely on the morning of the game," Atherton says. "We were going to select [pace bowlers] Devon Malcolm and Angus Fraser, but it was so humid I went with Mark Ilott and Peter Martin."

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The decision was vindicated with seven wickets between the pair as South Africa fell for 225, but that Third Test would be rained out before England could complete a first-innings reply. "It would have been a terrific Test match," Atherton recalls. "Instead, we ended up playing a lot of bridge in the hotel."

It is not always a low-scoring affair, though, and for batsmen standing their ground, it's hard to top the 1939 'timeless' Test between the sides, which was eventually abandoned after 10 days and 46 hours of play because England needed to catch the ship home. In more recent times, the 2004 Test, where Michael Vaughan's team arrived brimming with confidence, is indicative of how a lively Durban wicket can be negated if batsmen can see off the danger of the new ball and bed in.

Put in first, England were dismissed for 139 with Shaun Pollock (four wickets), Makhaya Ntini (three) and Dale Steyn (two) in the ascendancy. By the time they were back at the crease with a deficit of 193, largely thanks to Jacques Kallis's 162, the pitch was starting to yield. Andrew Strauss (136) and Marcus Trescothick (132) put on 273 for the first wicket and Graham Thorpe added an undefeated 118. Still there was life in the match as England strove for a ninth successive Test victory only to be thwarted by a stubborn ninth-wicket stand from AB de Villiers and Ntini.

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"It summed up South Africa. It was typical of the team I played against and that one under Graeme Smith," Atherton reflects. "Always highly competitive and hard to beat. They are tough competitors who rarely roll over and give you an easy victory."

The upside of that draw for the tourists was it meant finishing the year unbeaten in Test matches with an outstanding record of 11 wins and two draws. "We were seeing England building up to that great 2005 Ashes series. Strauss and Trescothick at the top of the order and a bowling attack that was coming together with Matthew Hoggard's swing, Steve Harmison's pace, Andrew Flintoff making an impact as the allrounder and Ashley Giles's spin. That would be the team to finally knock Australia off its perch."

Atherton's last tour to South Africa in 1999 was memorable for Gary Kirsten scoring a then-South African record of 275 in a match that showed how Kingsmead conditions can be cruel to spinners. It was again the Boxing Day Test and after England had posted 366 thanks to captain Nasser Hussain's unbeaten 146.

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After Andrew Caddick had taken 7-46 as South Africa were turned over for 156 and forced to follow on, it became a war of attrition. Hussain had batted for 10hrs 35mins, but that paled in comparison to Kirsten's 14hrs 38mins in the middle. Phil Tufnell bowled 45 overs for 177, but failed to take a wicket.

"It wasn't so green, damp and seaming and we just couldn't force a win. It was frustrating," Atherton says. "Tuffers only played two more Tests after this match. I think Duncan Fletcher, the coach, thought that he didn't offer much with the bat or in the field, so if he couldn't take wickets on the final day of a Test, what was the point?"

The case for spin was made more firmly the last time England visited Durban in 2009. The tourists took victory by an innings and 98 runs and Graeme Swann took nine wickets (4-110, 5-54) in the match. With Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott introduced, this was Andrew Strauss's team instead of Michael Vaughan's and as in 2005 it would go on to become the No 1 ranked side in the world.

"Swanny showed what a good spinner he was in that game," Atherton says. "I remember a great sense of despondency among the South African journalists. We swamped them in the second innings and it was one of the rare occasions they capitulated - bowled out in just 50 overs and three-and-a-half hours."

Watch all the action from the first Test between South Africa and England in Durban, live on Sky Sports 2 from 7.30am, December 26.