Peter Moores has identified England's improving lower order batting as a reason for optimism as they begin looking ahead to measuring themselves against the powerful South Africans later this summer.

Having secured a comfortable 2-0 npower Test series triumph over New Zealand, England now have a month-long break before they tackle South Africa in the opening Test at Lord's on July 10.

Before then they have a Twenty20 International and the five-match NatWest one-day international series against the Black Caps to occupy their thoughts.

But the biggest challenge of the summer will be the four-Test series against South Africa, who are actually one place below England in the official ICC Test rankings but boast a far better record over the last year having won nine of their last 14 Tests.

Captain Michael Vaughan has already labelled the South Africa series as "the ultimate test", and coach Moores conceded: "It will be a tough challenge because they've had a very good 18 months of cricket.

"They're at the right stage as a team, they have a nice balance of people who have been around for a while and players that have just come in. They play good cricket, so it'll be tough series."

Yet Moores and England will enter that series with high hopes having gradually improved during their six-Test home and away series with New Zealand over the last few months.

While the top order have now gone 12 successive Tests without registering a first-innings total in excess of 400, their lower order have improved steadily with Stuart Broad and James Anderson both hitting career-best scores during a 76-run eighth-wicket stand which was a major factor in England's innings triumph at Trent Bridge.

It is the result of endless hours of work with batting coach Andy Flower and Moores enthused: "Having lower-order players batting well increases your options.

"I was really pleased in this Test for Anderson getting runs, partly because he's worked really hard on it and also for Andy (Flower), who has worked tirelessly with all the lower order knowing that in a tight game those guys can often make a big difference.

"All those guys being able to bat makes a big difference because it's the partnerships they create with other people and it's a good sign for us."

Moores has been particularly impressed with 21-year-old Broad, who has averaged 34.83 with the bat since being given a regular berth in the Test side for the last five matches.

It is an impressive record almost on a par with New Zealand's Daniel Vettori, who is statistically the best number eight in the world, and Moores is happy for him to remain where he is for the time being rather than consider promoting him up the order.

"I think his batting is probably at the right place at the moment," he said. "What he's done is show all the way through his international exposure that he can handle pressure.

"I think we saw that at Old Trafford against India in a one-dayer when he took us home with Bopara. We hear a lot about players being a bit robotic and not thinking, but Stuart is definitely a thinking cricketer.

"He has game awareness, he feels situations and reacts to them and that's a really good thing to have in your side, especially in such a young man.

"He's learning really quickly and he's up for a fight which is a good trait.

"He's developing quickly as a batter and he's got some challenges to come, but he's shown at the moment that he's got a good, simple gameplan, a basic technique and a decent presence of mind so he can play. It's promising for us in the balance of the team."

Before Broad and the rest of England's Test squad, which may have been bolstered by the return of talismanic all-rounder Andrew Flintoff by then, can begin to think about South Africa they must first take on a New Zealand side ranked third in the world one-day rankings.

It is a major challenge for an England side well beaten in the one-day series out in New Zealand and Moores admitted: "I think they'll come really hard at us in the one-dayers because they pride themselves on being a good one-day side.

"They've played well away from home in the past and they'll really want to try to bounce back and it will be quite tough.

"As a one-day side we're still finding out some roles and settling a bit as a team, so we've got plenty to concentrate on and we're going to have to play very well to win the one-day series."

Every member of England's one-day squad with the exception of Nottinghamshire trio Broad, Ryan Sidebottom and Graeme Swann, who do not have a game, have been released to play in Wednesday's Twenty20 Cup fixtures as a warm-up for Friday's international at Old Trafford.

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