JOHANNESBURG // The imposing Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg is the setting for the final Test between South Africa and England. Nicknamed the "Bullring", the steep stands of the stadium make for an intimidating atmosphere - the ideal finale for an enthralling series.
Yet it is Graeme Smith's Proteas who will have to be at the very top of the game if they are to level the series 1-1 and retain the Basil D'Oliveira Trophy in the process. Smith is hoping his side can recapture the sort of form that yielded series wins in Australia and England in 2008. "We haven't been able to reach the heights of 2008," admitted Smith. "It's the little things that matter in big series and we have not reproduced them in the last two. But if we play well over the next five days we will retain the trophy.
"In two out of three Tests we've come close and you have to give credit to England's resilience. When they've been put under pressure, they've handled it well. As a team we've had chats about reaching the next level but we've not quite reached it." The pre-match talk once again surrounds the wicket and weather on a ground where there have been nine consecutive positive results. The green pitch looks like giving the bowlers a massive advantage and combined with the indifferent weather forecasted, the ball looks set to swing early on. But Smith says the wicket looks no different to recent years.
"The Wanderers is a sporting wicket, even since when I grew up it's always been a great challenge between bat and ball," he said. "It offers everyone a bit of something and the next five days will be no different. "It's going to be hard work at times for batters and hard work at times for bowlers. It will be a fair Test match wicket. When you come to the Wanderers, you know they'll always be a bit of pace and bounce and they will all play a part."
South Africa will hand a Test match debut to left-arm fast bowler Wayne Parnell, who replaces the injured Friedel de Wet. "He has pace, experience of international cricket in the shorter form, and maybe his youthful exuberance will be something he can really bring to the party," commented Smith on the 20-year-old prospect who has already played nine one-day internationals and eight Twenty20 matches for the Proteas.
"He offers variety but it will be a big challenge for him. I don't think the expectation is that he will walk in and knock over seven wickets straight away but if he puts in a solid Test match and does well that's brilliant. "He can add a lot to our attack if bowling well. He's a young character and it's about understanding him and backing him." South Africa look to keep faith with out-of-form spinner Paul Harris, who has taken just four wickets in the last two Tests, and resist the temptation to bring in all-rounder Ryan McLaren.
"We have made a decision to play a spinner as much as possible but we will make a final decision based on conditions in the morning," he said. England hope the inclusion of Parnell will create additional rough for Graeme Swann, the leading wicket-taker in the series, to extract turn out of. "Graeme's contributed a huge amount for us and if South Africa play Parnell hopefully they'll be some rough for him as well," said England captain Andrew Strauss. "Leaving him out is not something we're contemplating, but our seam bowlers have done a job and I think they can get 20 wickets on their own anyway."
"This wicket may offer more for the bowlers and there's a lot of pressure on the batsmen to get over the new ball, get in and fight hard." If South Africa are to successfully pull this series out of the fire, they will have to do the basics, according to Smith. "Precision is always the key at the Wanderers," he added. "You need to get the little things right and we need some key performances from certain individuals that are going to win this Test match. Holding your catches is important but a good positive mindset is crucial going into this Test match."
@Email:sports@thenational.ae South Africa v England, Day One, 12.30pm start, Showsports 2