England v South Africa third Test preview: Skipper Stokes seeking second series success

After what seems an eternity since the second Test, with large thanks to another England victory within three days, we roll on to the series decider and the last Test of the English summer.

England’s three-match series against South Africa has been very much a game of two halves, as, having been dominated in the first Test, England bounced back in emphatic fashion to brush Dean Elgar’s side away within three days. The question here, though, is who will have the deciding say in extra time?

Momentum with England

Heading into the series decider at the Oval, Ben Stokes’ side will carry a lot of confidence from the demolition job at Old Trafford inflicted on Dean Elgar’s South Africa.

England would have headed into this Test summer closer with an unchanged side had it not been for Jonny Bairstow’s freak golf course injury that has omitted him from the side. Yorkshire’s Harry Brook comes in as a replacement for his fellow county teammate. This is interesting because Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum have both made clear their desire to keep teams unchanged, but injury has forced their hand here. If Harry Brook was to join the elite club of players to ton up on debut (13/2 to be top English batsman in the first innings), then a lot of discussions will be had over winter in regard to players looking vulnerable at the top of the order.

England have been clinical, powerful, and vulnerable in equal measure over this series but in the respect of probability one would have to consider their chances greater than that of the touring party to put this series to bed. When England have been good, they’ve been brilliant, however Bazball does leave them vulnerable for periods of time. One would expect that like many great Tests at the South London venue (think Pietersen ‘05) there will be fireworks.

At even money for an England victory, it looks like the value is very much with the home side and come day three that could look like the bet of the year. However, there is a rather large, clouded caveat to add to that statement, and that is the English weather in September. After a glorious Test summer with scorching hot days in Manchester and around the country, it would be the law of sod to see the series decider succumb to the great British weather.

Eagle-eyed weather watchers will see that there is plenty of overcast conditions forecast around London over the weekend when the Test will be in full swing, and if those clouds materialise then the draw at 5/2 could look worth chancing. But yet again, with Bazball anything is possible and Stokes’ side could have the series wrapped up by then.

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