James Anderson gets in the groove ahead of Oval decider

England and South Africa go into Thursday’s final test at The Oval with the scoreline of the series intriguingly poised at 1-1 after emphatic victories by both sides. South Africa won the first Test at Lord’s by an innings and 12 runs, before England, led by Ben Stokes, blew the tourists to smithereens at Old Trafford, registering victory by an innings and 85 runs. Both seam attacks are phenomenal, and for the third Test running it is likely that first innings runs will be a deciding factor in the outcome.

In terms of player availability, England’s Jonny Bairstow suffered a freak leg injury playing golf and South Africa’s Rassie van der Dussen is nursing a fractured finger.