Rain meant there was no play before lunch on the first day of the third Test between England and South Africa at the Oval in London on Thursday. Picture: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Heavy rain meant no play was possible before lunch after England captain Ben Stokes opted to bowl first in the third and deciding Test against South Africa at The Oval on Thursday.
Overnight downpours delayed the toss and after it had taken place there was further rain in London.
The umpires subsequently announced lunch had been brought forward half an hour to 12:30 pm (UK Time) in the hope of making a prompt start to the second session.
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England had already named their side on Wednesday, giving a debut to Harry Brook after in-form batsman Jonny Bairstow was ruled out with a freak leg injury suffered playing golf.
The inclusion of Brook, who has scored 967 runs for Yorkshire in the County Championship this season at an exceptional average of 107, was the only change for England.
“It is a bit of strategy and the pitch,” explained Stokes after winning the toss. “We’ve done well bowling first this summer.”
England hammered South Africa by an innings and 85 runs in the second Test at Old Trafford last month to level the three-match series at 1-1.
South Africa, who won the first Test at Lord’s by an innings and 12 runs, responded to their heavy defeat in Manchester by making four changes, two of them enforced.
It had already been confirmed that Ryan Rickelton would replace Rassie van der Dussen after the batsman was ruled out with a broken finger.
South Africa captain Dean Elgar said at the toss that paceman Lungi Ngidi had been sidelined by a hamstring niggle, with Wiaan Mulder coming in to the side.
Khaya Zondo was recalled in place of struggling batsman Aiden Markram and left-arm quick Marco Jansen returned after the Proteas decided against retaining second spinner Simon Harmer.
“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,” said Elgar.
The Proteas have posted just one individual fifty so far this series.
Opener Elgar said: “Runs are key. We have the 20 wickets covered with our bowlers but we need to give them the chance to strike well and bowl to something.”
Victory would take South Africa back to the top of the World Test Championship table.
A win for England would give them a sparkling record of six wins in seven Tests under their new leadership pairing of Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.
England: Zak Crawley, Alex Lees, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Ben Foakes (wkt), Stuart Broad, Jack Leach, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson
South Africa: Dean Elgar (capt), Sarel Erwee, Keegan Petersen, Ryan Rickelton, Khaya Zondo, Kyle Verreynne (wkt), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje
Umpires: Nitin Menon (IND), Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
TV umpire: Chris Gaffaney (NZL)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)
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