Overnight rain
The weather over The Oval looks a little overcast and cloudy but the sun is trying to peak through the clouds. There has been a lot of rain overnight and the ground is a bit damp but the players are warming up on the outfield.
The umpires are giving the wicket a check over at 10:15 to see if play can start on time at 11 o’clock.
Ollie Robinson has become a ‘gym freak’ to put England career back on track
Ollie Robinson has revealed how embracing life as a “gym freak” helped put his England career back on track.
Robinson made his first Test appearance in seven months at Emirates Old Trafford, helping to wrap up an innings victory over South Africa with match figures of five for 91.
The 6ft 5in seamer was all smiles as he put the finishing touch to the three-day finish in Manchester, clean bowling Lungi Ngidi in comprehensive fashion, but it took plenty of hard work and some frank conversations to reach that point.
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Ollie Robinson has become a ‘gym freak’ to put England career back on track
The seamer put the finishing touch to the second Test victory over South Africa on his return to the team.
Robinson back in form
Ollie Robinson returned to the England team at Old Trafford and picked up where he left off after being forced out of the series against West Indies with injury.
Following a difficult Ashes series down under, Robinson’s fitness levels were called into question by England bowling coach Jon Lewis but the 28-year-old has worked hard to get back to match fitness.
He took 5-91 across both of South Africa’s innings in Manchester and now has 44 wickets in 10 appearances at a incredible average of 20.93.
England now have depth in the bowling department with Matt Potts also impressing this summer and of course James Anderson and Stuart Broad continue to show why they are two of England’s bests.
England batter Harry Brook is huge talent but ‘a bit dumb’, says Ben Stokes
England captain Ben Stokes believes Harry Brook is a “huge talent” but was less complimentary about the Test newcomer’s intellect, describing him as “a bit dumb”.
Yorkshire batter Brook is poised to make his red-ball debut in his country’s series decider against South Africa at the Kia Oval after being selected in place of the injured Jonny Bairstow.
The 23-year-old has been patiently awaiting an opportunity all summer and underlined his capabilities last month with a superb knock of 140 for England Lions in a tour game against the Proteas.
Stokes is a big admirer of his Northern Superchargers team-mate’s on-field talents, albeit his overall appraisal was not entirely glowing.
England batter Harry Brook is huge talent but ‘a bit dumb’, says Ben Stokes
The Yorkshire batter is set to make his Test debut in the series decider against South Africa
Brook to make England debut
Jonny Bairstow’s absence provides an opportunity for Yorkshire’s Harry Brook who has been waiting for his chance to take the step up to test match level.
The 23-year-old has played four T20s for England and has been in every Test squad this summer without playing a game.
The right-hander averages 36 in first-class cricket and made 140 for England Lions against South Africa in a warm-up match for the Test series.
“Hopefully he can take the opportunity with both hands and put even more pressure on the batting line-up,” said Stokes.
“The style he goes about things is exactly what we want in that middle order. Jonny [Bairstow] has set the tone, style and manner in which the middle order likes to play.
“I think we get a like-for-like replacement with the aggressive intent, the positive way Harry wants to show off his skills.”
Bairstow to miss final test
Jonny Bairstow definitely out of this week’s final test match with South Africa and is likely to miss the rest of the year after suffering a broken leg slipping whilst playing golf last Friday.
“I’m devastated for Jonny with the summer he’s had and the T20 World Cup coming up,” said England captain Ben Stokes.
“It’s really unfortunate timing but he can be really proud of what he’s achieved this summer. He’s been the catalyst of the revival and he should definitely hold his head high.”
Bairstow has been a crucial part for England’s success this summer scoring 681 runs from the middle order at an average of 61.9. He’s scored four hundreds in 11 innings including two match winning knocks against New Zealand and India.
England vs South Africa decider ‘like a World Cup final’, Dean Elgar claims
South Africa captain Dean Elgar is viewing the series decider against England “like a World Cup final” and has warned Test debutant Harry Brook that “this is the big league now”.
Rookie Yorkshire batter Brook has been drafted into the hosts’ team for a tantalising finale at the Kia Oval in place of the injured Jonny Bairstow.
The Proteas have already been on the receiving end of the 23-year-old’s talents after he last month smashed 140 during a crushing win for the England Lions in a tour match in Canterbury.
Elgar downplayed the importance of that display and insists Brook faces a far different proposition over the coming days.
England vs South Africa decider ‘like a World Cup final’, Dean Elgar claims
The two sides are tied 1-1 heading into the third and final Test
England vs South Africa
Hello and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the third and final test match between England and South Africa from The Oval. This match rounds out a brilliant summer for Ben Stokes’ team which has seen them win five out of their six tests under the new leadership group of Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.
Their only blip during this run was in the first test of this series where South Africa romped home with an innings and 12 run victory at Lords putting the sustainability of ‘Bazball’ into question. England responsed in fine fashion and dominated from the start in the second test at Old Trafford. They tore through South Africa’s batting line-up to dismiss them for 151 in the first innings before centuries from Stokes and wicketkeeper Ben Foakes put England in firm control of the match. Another brilliant bowling display in the third innings did for the Proteas once again and England closed out the game with an innings and 85 run win.
There has been 12 days between the conclusion of that test and the start of this decisive one. In that time Jonny Bairstow – so crucial to England’s success this summer with the bat – has suffered a freak injury on the golf course resulting in a broken leg and will be out for the rest of the year. In his place comes Yorkshire’s Harry Brook with the 23-year-old set to make his test match debut for England.
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