England Women's cricket coach to help Men's coach

England Women’s cricket coach Mark Robinson is all set to join the Men’s squad prior to their fourth Test against South Africa on Friday. Robinson, who guided the English eves to their fourth world championship, will work with Joe Root’s team, prior to the match at Old Trafford. Assistant Ali Maiden will also join Robinson in the men’s camp.

Men’s team coach Trevor Bayliss often invites other coaches into his set-up in the run-up to Tests or major series. Also, prior to the second Test at Trent Bridge, Worcestershire batting coach Kevin Sharp, who is a mentor of skipper Joe Root, was included. Robinson has extensive experience in the men’s game, twice winning the County Championship in a nine-year spell with Sussex and know’s what’s best for his team.

South Africa risks losing for the first time since 1998

England’s all-rounder Moeen Ali put up an impeccable performance to clinch a hat-trick and seal a 239-run victory over South Africa in the third Test at The Oval. The off-spinner had Dean Elgar, who made 136, caught at slip, Kagiso Rabada dismissed in the same manner then trapped Morne Morkel LBW on review.

With the loss, however, the Proteas risk losing a third successive Test series in England and may taste defeat for the first time since 1998.

Ali finished with figures of 4-45 as South Africa, chasing an unlikely 492, were bowled out for 252. England now lead the series 2-1 with only the fourth Test at Old Trafford to play.

Following the victory, Lions’ coach Trevor Bayliss said, “I’m still of the view we don’t need more than seven batters – we’ve got three guys like Stokes, Bairstow and Ali who give us a lot of options, so we looked at the conditions here and played the extra batsman. Roland-Jones and Tom Westley were outstanding. Westley [who made 59 at No. 3 in England’s second innings] fitted into the squad very easily and looks comfortable.”