The fact that, unfortunately, only 11 can take the field and that one of these three will probably be 12th man, does not in any way diminish their ambition. Just to be on the scene for what is often the greatest occasion of the season is motivation enough for them all.
Dean Headley, who carried the drinks at Edgbaston after his county colleague, Mark Ealham, was preferred in the final 11, has every chance of playing on this occasion as Darren Gough's replacement and it would be foolish even to consider an all-seam attack, a policy which came unstuck at Lord's, not for the first time, as recently as two seasons ago against India, when an attack of Cork, Lewis, Mullally, Martin, Irani and Hick (two overs) managed to restrict the opposition to 429 in their only innings.
Assuming the retention of Robert Croft, therefore, whoever is called when the team is announced tomorrow morning is likely to require patience. The more so in view of the confirmation, not entirely surprising, that the early prognosis of Gough's broken finger was unnecessarily pessimistic. He should be back for the third match at Old Trafford.
Silverwood knows all about patience, having been on successive tours for England on which his main duty was to provide batting practice for his colleagues in the nets. His one Test appearance in Zimbabwe was not without promise - four for 71 from 25 overs - but his performances this season do not compare with those of Giddins and Betts and he is far better off playing for Yorkshire than practising 12th man duties once more.
Giddins, the reformed and remotivated maverick, or Betts, the nearest to Gough in his wholehearted approach to bowling, are the form horses and this would be a good time to see how Giddins reacts to all that is involved with being introduced to what is now officially known as Team England.
The chairman of selectors, David Graveney, has confirmed that the fact that he was once called for throwing in a pre-season friendly match for Sussex is not a consideration. Quite rightly, because his action is fair and certainly no less wristy than that of at least one distinguished international fast bowler.
On the occasion that the minor county umpire took a different view, as he was fully entitled to do, I am told the offended bowler subsequently threw the ball towards the Gilligan Stand and said: ``THAT'S a throw.''
Giddins remains an individual and a character and there is room for that in the team context so long as certain rules are not broken. He made his mistakes at Hove, as well as taking 248 first-class wickets at 29 before being dismissed after failing a random drug test - but he has returned to county cricket with a new focus. They are pleased with his performances for Warwickshire - he is the bowler to whom Brian Lara turns when he most wants a breakthrough and has already taken 33 championship wickets - and he deserves selection now for the good reason that he gets good batsmen out by using his intelligence and being able to swing the ball at pace.
All three main candidates are in great form and there are others, including Andrew Caddick who, not uncharacteristically, told a local journalist recently that he has been bowling too well this season for most of the batsmen he has come across. He should consider, perhaps, that when balls beat the edge it is often because the length is not quite right. Confidence is a virtue in a bowler, within reason, but so is a calculating brain within a cool head.
It is hard to think that England's bowlers will not be a sight more confident than South Africa's for the second Test. The fact that Allan Donald is not playing against Sussex suggests that the injury at the back of his heel is still troubling him and he and Shaun Pollock could have done with a more convincing performance than they produced at Edgbaston.
Whoever the selectors settle for, it could still be an interesting choice next Thursday between Headley, Ealham and the form horse.