Bairstow the man to take fight back to South Africa

Third Test
Sky Cricket, 11am Thursday

Dominant at Lord’s, dominated at Trent Bridge – the first eight days of Joe Root’s tenure as Test captain have encapsulated England’s shortcomings over the last few years.

Defeat in Nottingham was their seventh in their last ten Tests, yet they are 6-5 favourites to bounce back from that crushing 340-run reverse with victory in the third Test against South Africa at The Oval.

There is little doubt that England’s vibrant, talented side have the ability to replicate their one-day exploits in the five-day arena, but their temperament and patience was rightly called into question after two abject batting collapses in the second Test.

In the first innings at Trent Bridge, England lost their last four wickets for just six runs, while they could bat out only 44 overs in their second dig as a number of batsman were guilty of rash shots at a time when caution was required to salvage an unlikely draw.

For South Africa, captain Faf du Plessis will be hoping for more of the same.

This is not a vintage Proteas touring party of yesteryear but there are certainly enough frailties in the England batting order for them to harbour hopes of a series victory – a scenario that seemed highly unlikely after their own poor display at Lord’s.

The Proteas batted with greater discipline than the hosts in Nottingham and were more penetrative with ball in hand.

Should they do so again, they will fancy their chances.

Best bets
After failing a probing test of their credentials at Trent Bridge, a ground where bowlers can enjoy plenty of assistance, England’s batsmen will be relieved to return to the more benign conditions of The Oval.

Captain Joe Root, Alastair Cook, Jonny Bairstow and Mooen Ali all average over 40 at the south London venue and Bairstow is the only member of that quartet without a century to their name.

However, the Yorkshireman struck two fifties (55 & 81) against Pakistan in a ten-wicket defeat at The Oval last year and barring his tame second-innings dismissal in the second Test, alongside Root and Cook he has looked more at ease against South Africa’s attack than most of his teammates.

Bairstow has scored more runs against the Proteas than any other nation with 630 runs at an average of 57.3 in 13 innings.

Across the three formats in which the sides have met this summer, Bairstow has notched three half-centuries and three more scores in the 40s, so at 11-4 he makes plenty of appeal to hit a first-innings fifty.

Vernon Philander has been the standout South African bowler in the series, utilising his subtle variations to great effect.

The 31-year-old has the knack of extracting the maximum out of any surface but the flat tracks of The Oval could prove one deck he cannot master.

Preference is therefore for spinner Keshav Maharaj to lead South Africa’s attack.

The Oval may not suit the seamers but it does usually turn. Maharaj has made a blistering start to his Test career with 36 wickets in nine matches – ten of which have come on this tour.

If there is any purchase in the surface, he may continue to torment England’s batsmen.

Venue
Today’s Test will be the 100th staged at The Oval, some 137 years after England beat Australia by five wickets in the first match at the south London venue.

After losing only six of 21 Tests between 1990 and 2010, England have lost three of their last six at The Oval including a crushing innings-defeat by South Africa in 2012 when Hashim Amla hit 311 not out.

Team news
Essex batsman Tom Westley and Middlesex pacemen Toby Roland-Jones will make their England debuts in place of injured pair Gary Ballance (finger) and Mark Wood (heel). Dawid Malan has also been added to the squad but is unlikely to feature.

South Africa could recall Kagiso Rabada after suspension with Duane Olivier the likeliest bowler to make way. JP Duminy has been released from the tour.

Weather
Thunderstorms and showers are forecast for Thursday afternoon but the rest of the match is set fair with temperatures reaching the early 20Cs.

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