All eyes are on The Oval as England look to end a seismic summer with a bang in the decisive third and final Test against South Africa.
After being hammered inside three days, by an innings and 12 runs, at Lord’s, England returned the favour at Old Trafford with a comprehensive innings and 85 runs victory to level the series and set up a grand slam finish to a wonderful summer.
It started with Ben Stokes being named as the new Test captain after Joe Root stepped down following a tough 18-month spell. It started to wear him down and the smile we have become accustomed to was fading.
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With superstar Stokes, famed for his aggressive approach to the game of cricket, running the show on the field, the ECB chose the perfect conductor to be head coach in Brendon McCullum. Thus ‘BazBall’ was born.
On paper it was a tough summer with assignments against World Test Champions New Zealand followed by a one-off Test against India, which was postponed from the 2021 series. Win, lose or draw they knew they had South Africa coming to town, who are a dangerous proposition with one of the fastest attacks in history and the scalp of India on home turf in their back pocket.
Fast forward three months and England whitewashed the Kiwis 3-0 and beat India to level the heldover series 2-2 with four successive swashbuckling run chases, the perfect blueprint for the new era of this red-ball side.
Humbled by Dean Elgar’s side at the Home of Cricket, England bounced back strongly from the first setback of the new regime — led by a player-of-the-match performance from captain Stokes.
So here we are with it all to play for. Both sides hungry for success. England desperate for another successful tale in their book of redemption and South Africa bidding for their first series win over the hosts, home or away, for a decade.
Much of the pre-match discussion has revolved around the big blow of losing Jonny Bairstow due to a freak golf incident which looks set to rule him out for the rest of the year, including the upcoming T20 World Cup.
The ‘Summer of Bairstow’ was abruptly cut short as the Yorkshireman sustained a lower leg injury after slipping on the tee box mere hours after the squad for October’s T20 World Cup in Australia was announced.
Bairstow is at the peak of his powers and smashed 681 runs at a phenomenal average of over 75 in Test cricket this season. The onus will be on the rest of the batting line-up to fire in his absence.
Fellow Yorkshire batter Harry Brook is destined to make his Test debut in South-West London tomorrow, at a ground which is renowned for being a batting paradise.
Test cap 707 awaits the 23-year-old starlet, who has amassed an incredible 1,782 County Championship runs since the start of the 2021 season. This summer, Yorkshire fans have been treated to Brook masterclass after Brook masterclass as he’s smashed through the shop window rather than putting himself in it.
An average of 107.44 from 12 Championship innings, which included a fine 140 for the England Lions against this same Proteas’ attack which will be vying for his blood this week in the capital.
The baton has been passed from one Yorkshire batter to another as the summer of Bairstow transitions to Brook SZN.
Ollie Pope, who will be greeted by a hero’s welcome at his home ground, has toured with hot prospect Brook in the U19 set-up and expects him to continue his breathtaking form in the Test arena.
He said: “It’s gutting Jonny’s not here, but Brook is absolutely ready. He’s a seriously good player. He’s not the type of guy that this occasion would faze. He impresses me in how chilled he is.
“He’s been in ridiculous form this season and he’s got the game to take into Test cricket. He’s got the mind-set as well, he just loves batting. I’m excited for him.”
Surrey’s own Pope has impressed in spells during his first forays at first drop. A coming-of-age 145 against New Zealand and 73 as England were bundled out for 165 have been the highlights.
The England number three added: “We’re going to try and go about it in the same way we have every Test this summer. Nothing’s going to change just because the series is one the line.
“The boys are up for it and very excited. We’ll definitely be playing that positive brand of cricket again. Everyone’s free to bat exactly how they want and you’re going to have 100 percent backing from the changing room.”
*18+ | BeGambleAware
