Andrew Strauss may have starred in two Ashes-winning series, but he still believes that England will need to play better than at any time in his career to beat South Africa this winter.

Andy Flower, the team director, suggested four days ago that victory would be no tougher to attain than the success against Australia in the summer, but the captain did not try to disguise the scale of the task of overcoming the No 1-ranked side in Tests.

Flower has pointed to the special intensity and interest around games between the oldest Test-playing nations, but Strauss, speaking in Bloemfontein yesterday, is of the view that different conditions always add a significant challenge for touring teams and he also senses great motivation among the South Africans.

“As a group we understand the challenge that this tour sets us,” Strauss said. “Winning the series would be an incredible achievement. In some ways we are going to have to play better than we have ever played in my time as an England player to manage that. It is a bit of a step up for us and comes at a good time.”

The big question surrounding the build-up has been whether England will learn from mistakes and avoid the pitfalls that came after the 2005 Ashes. Omens are already good. Where, four years ago, injuries struck immediately, the return of Kevin Pietersen should more than compensate for Andrew Flintoff’s retirement from the Test side this time.

The two level-headed figures at the helm will not allow overconfidence to creep in. Strauss and Flower have stressed the gap that exists between England and South Africa, with Flower suggesting that England, presently fifth in the ICC Test rankings, cannot reach the No 1 spot until 2011 even by winning every Test match between now and then.

That may be a slight exaggeration, because results in series not involving England also enter the equation. But with four Tests in South Africa and five in Australia next winter, Flower is right to call for realistic targets. Even to make up the 11 points separating themselves and Australia, who are in fourth place, will be a significant short-term achievement, not least because Australia have a relatively straightforward three-match Test series against West Indies that starts this month.

Strauss said: “This is an opportunity for us to see where we are and also to make some steps forward in dealing with the best sides in the world on a consistent basis. I am genuinely excited about having Kevin back. When you have a player of that quality with that frame of mind, you can expect him to go out and play really well.”

Pietersen will not be risked for the Twenty20 internationals on November 13 and 15, even though he is due to be in South Africa by then. England remain confident, however, that he will be fit for the first of the five one-day internationals on November 20 at the Wanderers, where he received such a rough ride from the crowd in January 2005.

South Africa themselves play 50-over matches against Zimbabwe in Benoni on Sunday and then in Centurion a week today by way of preparation and Mickey Arthur, the coach, is adamant that his side will be much improved from the unit beaten unexpectedly by England in the Champions Trophy five weeks ago.

“The Zimbabwe games will get us playing together again and we want to go into the England series hot,” Arthur said. “We were rusty going into the Champions Trophy and perhaps a bit predictable. We are looking for more flexibility. Any series against England is huge and we want to make sure we are well prepared.”

They have dropped the flamboyant Herschelle Gibbs for the one-day internationals and want to play Albie Morkel as a specialist batsman, or at least not rely on him for anything like a full bowling stint. Ryan McLaren, the former Kent all-rounder, will also be given an opportunity.