England v South Africa, 3rd Test Preview: Under fire hosts looking to work on red-ball shortcomings

England meekly surrendered in the 2nd Test at Nottingham raising questions over their Test match approach. Their batting was abysmal in both innings as it took the visitors only 96.1 overs to pick 20 wickets in the Test match. After facing a lot of wrath by experts, England batting will be looking for redemption.

South Africa will be happy to be back at The Oval. It is the same venue where Hashim Amla slammed South Africa’s only triple hundred in Test cricket five years ago. The Proteas have looked like a different team under du Plessis, who missed the first Test due to personal reasons. The form of Philander and Morris has been impressive as they have not only bowled well but also made crucial runs with the bat. The returning Rabada will pose a serious threat to a brittle English batting line-up.

The Oval is set to host its 100th Test match. The home side hasn’t had the best of times playing at this ground. In the last five Tests held at The Oval, they have lost three and won just one Test. Senior batsmen Cook and Root will have to step up. After the collapse at Trent Bridge, England might contemplate on playing an extra batsman which might pave the way for David Malan and Tom Westley’s debut.

Focus will be on

Hashim Amla

The right hander scored two half centuries in the Trent Bridge Test which propelled South Africa to level the series. He was prepared to bide time at the crease when the going was tough. It is fair to say that Amla has played fluent knocks in the past but he realizes the significance of grinding it out in Test cricket. He has happy memories of this ground, where he scored a gigantic 311* in 2012. The 34-year old hasn’t had the greatest of times in Test cricket in the last couple of years. His Test average, which was in the north of 51, has plummeted below 50. But he still remains one of the pivotal members of the South African Test unit. The conditions at The Oval are batsman friendly and Amla is too good a player to miss out on such an opportunity.

Alistair Cook

Former skipper Cook has made a lot of runs in first class cricket leading up to this series. The highest run getter in Tests from England has to show his pedigree in desperate times for English cricket. This is his first series since relinquishing the captaincy. While he still remains a crucial cog in England’s batting unit, Cook will be under scrutiny as he can’t afford to slip up as a batsman. He recorded a half century in the first Test but couldn’t kick on to get a big score. At 32, Cook still has a lot of cricket left in him. England wants him to fire at the top of the order to avoid a second successive home series defeat at the hands of South Africa.

Playing Combinations

South Africa

The visitors will go in with the same team with a solitary change. The returning Rabada will replace Duanne Olivier. Dean Elgar has been South Africa’s first choice opener since last year and he will open the inning alongside Heino Kuhn. Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis and Temba Bavuma will make the middle order of South Africa. The Proteas might still persist with the experiment of playing de Kock at No. 4. In Philander and Chris Morris, South Africa have two reliable lower order batsman capable of scoring runs in English conditions. Maharaj has been sensational for the visitors and will play a big role with his left-arm spin in London. Rabada and Morkel will be the two specialist fast bowling options for du Plessis.

England

England will be facing selection dilemma. Keaton Jennings has just 44 runs from 4 innings in this series but he is expected to open the inning again with Alistair Cook. England might ponder on giving debuts to Westley and Malan. The latter, though, looks set to replace Gary Balance at No. 3. Root, Bairstow, and Stokes will occupy the No. 4, 5 and 6 positions. The conditions at The Oval calls for picking two spinners but Dawson hasn’t done enough to warrant a place in the side and might be replaced with the attacking option of Adil Rashid, who will partner Moeen Ali in the spin department. Anderson, Broad and Chris Wood are expected to be the fast bowlers for England in London.

Predicted XI

South Africa: Dean Elgar, Heino Kuhn, Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, Temba Bavuma, Vernon Philander, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj and Morne Morkel.

England: Alistair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Tom Westley, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Chris Wood.

Stat Attack

1 – run required by Alistair Cook to go past Allan Border to become the 9th highest run-getter in the history of Test cricket.

11 – wickets required by Stuart Broad to become the second highest taker for England in Tests.

100 – The Kennington Oval will be hosting its 100th Test match. The first Test at this venue was hosted in 1880.