South Africa vs England

Rassie van der Dussen is out, Lungi Ngidi has a niggle and Aiden Markram and Simon Harmer also drop out. In come Ryan Rickelton, Khaya Zonzo, Marco Jansen and ...

Nick Hoult writes: "Dean Elgar, the captain, is mulling over other changes and will surely bring back the left-arm pace of Marco Jansen for Simon Harmer – a challenge for Brook on debut. If England are batting, we can expect to watch Harry Brook on debut at No 5. Certainly it will be a very good day for the hosts if they bat first and he doesn't make an appearance. Still hopeful that play will start on time at 11am. Throughout the summer, we've obviously done really well bowling first. We will have all the news from the toss and then over-by-over updates for you when play gets under way. South Africa won the first Test at Lord’s by an innings and 12 runs, before England thrashed the tourists by an innings and 85 runs at Old Trafford. England’s crushing of South Africa by an innings at Old Trafford was their most complete performance under Stokes and if they win this week it will make six victories for the summer, the first time that has happened since 2004. The encouraging news this morning is that the weather forecast has improved (it looked a bit bleak yesterday) and there was an umpires' inspection at 10.15am. It looks like a good surface but there might be something in it in the first session so we will have to knuckle down with bat in hand and start well. We didn't have the greatest second Test but it is still 1-1 and we would have taken that coming into the series. We have the 20 wickets covered with our bowlers but we need to give them the chance to strike well and bowl to something.

Ben Stokes leads England into final test against South Africa with three-match series level at 1-1.

It is quite dark out there and the covers are coming on in preparation of a downpour. [England](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/england-cricket) close out the summer at The Oval in the third and final test match against [South Africa](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/south-africa-cricket-team). He says that the surface looks good for batting but the first session may be tricky. We haven’t had a ball bowled yet and now the match faces an indeterminate delay. Under their leadership England have won five of their six test matches including a series win over World Test champions New Zealand and a series draw in the delayed fifth test match against India. [Terms of use,](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/user-policies-a6184151.html) [Cookie policy](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/cookie-policy-a6184186.html) and [Privacy notice.](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/privacy-policy-a6184181.html) Also happening this morning, James Anderson was presented a new test cap for reaching his 175th match. With the rain properly hammering down now, play doesn’t look like it will start for a while. What an achievement for England’s greatest ever bowler. [Privacy policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en) and [Terms of service](https://policies.google.com/terms?hl=en) apply. [injured Yorkshire teammate Jonny Bairstow ](/sport/cricket/jonny-bairstow-injury-world-cup-b2158529.html)in England’s only change from last time out. Left-arm quick Marco Jansen was controversially omitted in Manchester but he returned while all-rounder Wiaan Mulder was also included.

Heavy rain delayed the start of the series-deciding third Test between England and South Africa at the Kia Oval.

Watch the third Test between England and South Africa at the Kia Oval on Sky Sports Cricket. Heavy rain delayed the start of the series-deciding third Test between England and South Africa at the Kia Oval. England vs South Africa: Rain delays start of series-deciding third Test

Over-by-over report: Join our writers for updates as the series-deciding Test gets under way at The Oval.

Yes, England are playing differently, but the real change – to me at least – is the players accepting responsibility, not “for winning cricket matches” but for sustaining this thing of ours forever and beyond. At Lord’s, he called correctly and made the correct call; at Old Trafford he called correctly and made the incorrect call. As such, we’ve had only half of the action for which we were hoping and are only getting three matches not four, so it feels like we’ve not really seen a series … “Come on Billy,” he says, “Just give me that roar of the crowd that I’m after.” And they’re there in the circle to see him presented with his cap by Joe Root – I’ve not the foggiest how they’re holding it down, because I’m feeling emotional myself. But now, I’m brining them and rotissrising them, then dipping them in the sauce, finishing them off on the grill, and tossing them in the sauce. [England put India in last summer](https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/india-tour-of-england-2021-2022-1239527/england-vs-india-4th-test-1239546/full-scorecard). “I think it must be one of the top bat first venues?” “(Am I doing this right?).”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rr4tXN2eJM&ab_channel=OceanColourSceneVEVO)offers @Smylers2 of Only Connect fiendishness. We’ve missed a big shower but caught the edge of it, and it’s absolutely caning down. So, what’s the least happy – or most happy – you’ve ever been at the match, and why? I reckon that’s the most miserable I’ve ever been at the cricket – I was starting law school the following day and was in total disbelief at what I was doing to myself.

The Proteas won the first Test by an innings and 12 runs at Lord's only for England to level the three-match contest at 1-1 with an even more emphatic innings ...

Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison. 0 (0) R/R: 0 Last Wicket 0/0 (0) 0/0 (0.0 ov) - R/R 0.0 R [Firstcricket](https://www.firstpost.com/firstcricket) [Hockey](https://www.firstpost.com/tag/hockey) [Football](https://www.firstpost.com/sports/football-news) [Tennis](https://www.firstpost.com/sports/tennis-news) [Badminton](https://www.firstpost.com/tag/badminton) [NBA](https://www.firstpost.com/tag/nba)

No decision has yet been made about the remaining three days of play, but all scheduled cricket matches on Friday have been postponed. In a statement, the ECB ...

Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, both had a long history of supporting cricket and England's national sides. The following year, she invited both the men's and women's England teams to Buckingham Palace to receive awards recognising their victorious Ashes campaigns. She later sent a message of congratulations to the victorious England team after its final victory over New Zealand." "Her dedication to her country will never be forgotten. New ECB chair Richard Thompson paid tribute to The Queen and her support of cricket, saying: "I'm sure I speak for everyone in the game when I say how truly sad I am to hear of the Queen's passing. For fixtures beyond Friday, updates will be provided in due course."

ECB chair Richard Thompson has confirmed there will be no play on Friday in the rain-impacted deciding Test match.

[Terms of use,](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/user-policies-a6184151.html) [Cookie policy](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/cookie-policy-a6184186.html) and [Privacy notice.](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/privacy-policy-a6184181.html) “Her dedication to her country will never be forgotten. [Privacy policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en) and [Terms of service](https://policies.google.com/terms?hl=en) apply.

Thursday's first day in London was washed out without a ball bowled. The three-match series is locked at 1-1.

The three-match series is locked at 1-1. Thursday's first day in London was washed out without a ball bowled.

The third and deciding Test match between England and South Africa has been postponed following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the age of ...

The first day of the third Test at The Oval was abandoned without a ball being bowled The first day of the third and final Test at The Oval was abandoned without a ball being bowled on Thursday. - The third Test has been suspended following the death of the Queen

Live scoring and coverage from the 3rd Test between the Proteas and England at The Oval.

17h ago 13h ago 12h ago

The England and Wales Cricket Board is continuing to discuss the situation with government and will provide an update as to the rest of the Test in due ...

The series is level at 1-1, with both Tests finishing inside three days. “Following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Friday’s play between England and South Africa at the Oval will not take place,” the ECB said in a statement. The second day’s play in the third Test between England and South Africa at The Oval will not take place on Friday following the death of Queen Elizabeth, the England and Wales Cricket Board said on Thursday.