Little separates teams in big Test battle

The hosts havent lost a Test in England since Pakistan beat them at The Oval in 2010,and the last team to beat them in a home series was South Africa in 2008.

A potentially fascinating showdown between two of the worlds best Test teams begins at The Oval on Thursday,when England defends the No.1 ranking against a South Africa side who will seize the top spot if they win the three-match series.

Were going to have to be completely on top form to stand any chance of winning, England pace bowler James Anderson said. South Africa soak up pressure better than anyone else in the world so we might have to be more patient than we have been in recent series and thats going to be our biggest test. We know theyre going strong in all conditions with both bat and ball.

The hosts havent lost a Test in England since Pakistan beat them at The Oval in 2010,and the last team to beat them in a home series was South Africa in 2008.Its always a tough tour to come and win here, South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis said. Youve got to play good cricket here,theyre a good side at home,but weve got some fond memories of the last tour here when they were also a good team.

The only regret is that the series will last for only three matches,but the teams look almost perfectly balanced,with South Africas slight statistical advantage countered by Englands experience of home conditions. South Africas form is difficult to gauge from the limited amount of cricket theyve played since arriving in England two weeks ago. Rain-affected draws with Somerset and Kent amounted to little more than glorified practice sessions,although Kallis didnt feel this would be a factor.

As far as preparation is concerned I dont think anything more could have been done, he said. I think the guys are all pretty much where they want to be and just keen for the game to start now.

Since usurping India as the worlds No.1 side 12 months ago,Englands status looked precarious during a winter that saw a 3-0 loss to Pakistan in the UAE and a 1-1 draw in Sri Lanka. However,this summer the hosts have been in imperious form. They outclassed a limited West Indies side in all three forms of the game and outplayed Australia to win an ODI series 4-0.

No KP in T20 squad

Pietersen was left out of England8217;s provisional,30-man squad for the Twenty20 World Cup announced by the ECB on Wednesday.

Story continues below this ad

The 32-year-old batsman retired from one-day international cricket in May,citing the intensity of the schedule and the physical demands on him,but remains available to play Tests for England. Media reports in Britain over the weekend suggested Pietersen was willing to make a return to all three formats,but only if the ECB allowed him to play out the IPL season with his side Delhi Daredevils.

Live on star cricket 3.30 pm