Former Gloucestershire and England wicketkeeper Jack Russell is urging England to be positive and "play with freedom" in the five-match one-day series with South Africa, which gets under way tomorrow.

Russell believes England have the players and the ability to win a second successive Test series in the republic after the 2-1 triumph in 2004-05.

Russell, who appeared in 54 Tests and 40 one-day internationals for England, said: "The one-day series is a bit hit and miss, but if we can play with the same kind of freedom we have seen in some of our recent performances, we're a match for anyone. I really believe that.

"It's about being positive and getting runs on the board. The ability is definitely there, but we need to be more consistent.

"The Tests are more of a marathon, but there are great opportunities for some of our lads because Freddie Flintoff is not around.

"It's a real chance for people to grab the bull by the horns and step up. No one can fill his shoes, but they can fill that gap.

"I really liked the way Eoin Morgan played with no shackles in the Twenty20. We've got some good players but we need to perform when it counts. The South Africans are tough, tough cookies but they're not invincible and they're going to be under a lot of pressure in their own back garden. If we can beat Australia, we can beat them."

Russell said he likes the look of the England squad. He added: "Andrew Strauss is in great nick and when he plays well he leads well, and Kevin Pietersen is a much wiser player now.

"Also, Matt Prior is keeping wicket much better than a year ago and is a quality cricketer. I really think we're looking all right."

Russell reserved two of the highlights of his magnificent career for South Africa in 1995, setting a world wicketkeeping record with 11 dismissals in the second Test in Johannesburg and sharing an unbeaten stand of 119 with skipper Michael Atherton, contributing 29 from 235 balls in 277 minutes, as England battled for an unlikely draw in the same match.

Russell said: "I can still see the look in Athers' eyes now as we walked out to bat on that last day ... it was a look that made me think 'This bloke's really going to do it'.

"He totally inspired me. I look back and am disappointed I scored 29 – it was too many! I hit a boundary at one point and said to myself 'what are you doing? You should just be blocking it out!'

"I was so pumped up and so in the zone that I was angry when (umpire) Darrell Hair took the bails off to mark the end of the game. I wanted to stay out there for a week."