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England v South Africa: Fourth Test start time, TV channel, latest betting odds and team news
This topsy-turvy series continued with a thumping England win in the third Test at The Oval, and Joe Root's men now need only to avoid defeat in the final Test at Old Trafford to ensure his reign begins with a significant series victory.
The rain could well be a factor in Manchester after a damp week with further rain forecast, but South Africa will nonetheless retain some confidence of bouncing back having done so impressively in the second Test.
Our guide contains team news, start times, TV channel information, stats and latest news from both camps, while Dave Tickner and Sir Ian Botham provide their best bets.
England v South Africa: Fourth Test contents
1. Match details
2. Team news
3. Betting tips
4. Key stats
5. Quotes
6. Latest news
7. Series fixtures & results
England v South Africa: Fourth Test key details
Dates: Friday August 4 - Tuesday August 8
Session times: 1100-1300, 1340-1540, 1600-1800 BST
TV Channel: Sky Sports Cricket (404)
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester
Sky Bet odds: England evens, Draw 5/2, South Africa 5/2
Price Boost: Joe Root or Alastair Cook to score a century in 1st innings: was 6/4, NOW 9/4
England v South Africa: Fourth Test team news
With Gary Ballance and Mark Wood still out through injury, England have retained the eventual 13-man squad from The Oval, with Steven Finn as cover for the quick bowlers and Liam Dawson still in the party.
The likelihood is that England will be unchanged, however, meaning another chance for Keaton Jennings at the top of the order after his battling 48 in the second innings last week, and a second cap for Dawid Malan despite his first yielding just 11 runs in two innings.
South Africa could make a change at the top of the order. Aiden Markram could replace Heino Kuhn, who has contributed only 78 runs in six innings thus far.
Markram could slot straight in at the top of the order, or Temba Bavuma could move up and free up a place in the middle-order.
Vernon Philander's back spasm gives South Africa another selection headache, with skipper Faf du Plessis admitting they would be reluctant to go with only three seamers unless Philander is 100 per cent.
With Keshav Maharaj being so impressive as a spinner, and South Africa needing victory, that could mean selecting a five-man attack with Duanne Olivier recalled as fourth seamer. The only way to incorporate four seamers and Maharaj would appear to be moving Bavuma to the top of the order and omitting Kuhn.
Probable England XI: Joe Root (capt), Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Tom Westley, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Toby Roland-Jones, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.
Also in squad: Liam Dawson, Steven Finn
Probable South Africa XI: Faf du Plessis (capt), Dean Elgar, Heino Kuhn, Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma, Vernon Philander, Chris Morris, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel.
Also in squad: Theunis de Bruyn, Aiden Markram, Duanne Olivier, Andile Phehlukwayo
England v South Africa: Fourth Test betting tips
"In a series where wickets are on offer and even a half-century can be a significant score, there is every chance one of the all-rounders takes out this market again.
"Philander is, currently, rated alongside Chris Morris at the back of the queue among the main four contenders. It’s one thing for him to be a bigger price than Ben Stokes or Moeen Ali, both playing the best cricket of their lives and lining up for the favourites, but should Philander really be the same price as Morris?"
Click here for Dave Tickner's full preview
"We’ve already had lots of rain here and the forecast is pretty bleak for the weekend.
"The draw is favourite if the weather is bad, but I still feel that if England get enough time they could win and are worth backing."
England v South Africa: Fourth Test key stats
OLD TRAFFORD
Overall: 77 Tests: 27 home wins, 14 away wins, 35 draws, 1 neutral win
Last 10 Tests: 8 home wins, 2 draws
Last Test: July 22-25, 2016: England (589-8d & 173-1d) beat Pakistan (198 & 234) by 330 runs
England v South Africa: 8 Tests: 3 home wins, 1 away win, 4 draws
Last England v South Africa Test: July 2-6, 1998: South Africa (552-5d) drew with England (183 & 369-9 [f.o.])
ENGLAND
Last 10 Tests (most recent first): WLWLLLLDLW
Last 10 home Tests (most recent first): WLWLWWLDWW
Last 10 Tests - top batsmen
Joe Root 949 runs @ 47.45 2x100 7x50
Jonny Bairstow 699 runs @ 38.83 6x50
Ben Stokes 691 runs @ 36.36 2x100 3x50
Alastair Cook 670 runs @ 33.50 1x100 4x50
Moeen Ali 636 runs @ 33.47 2x100 3x50
Last 10 Tests - top bowlers
Moeen Ali 39 wkts @ 29.89 2x5w 1x10w
Adil Rashid 30 wkts @ 35.66
Ben Stokes 26 wkts @ 27.26 1x5w
James Anderson 17 wkts @ 26.00 1x5w
Stuart Broad 17 wkts @ 33.70
SOUTH AFRICA
Last 10 Tests (most recent first): LWLDWDWWWL
Last 10 away Tests (most recent first): LWLWDLWWLL
Last 10 Tests - top batsmen
Dean Elgar 864 runs @ 45.47 3x100 5x50
Quinton de Kock 669 runs @ 39.35 1x100 5x50
Hashim Amla 650 runs @ 36.11 1x100 3x50
Faf du Plessis 610 runs @ 50.83 1x100 5x50
Temba Bavuma 438 runs @ 24.33 4x50
Last 10 Tests - top bowlers
Kagiso Rabada 40 wkts @ 26.57 1x5w 1x10w
Keshav Maharaj 36 wkts @ 24.36 2x5w
Vernon Philander 31 wkts @ 25.96 1x5w
Morne Morkel 24 wkts @ 27.98
Kyle Abbott 9 wkts @ 25.66
England v South Africa: Fourth Test key quotes
ENGLAND
Joe Root on Keaton's Jennings' form: "He's a very level-headed guy, he's got a very strong character and throughout he's been very much the same in the way he's approached his training and in each game as well.
"It's great to see someone so light of experience be very mature and go about it in the right way.
"The way he played in that second innings was extremely great to see, I'm pleased that he's been able to get a score and hopefully that'll lead into some more runs this week."
Ben Stokes on those Flintoff comparisons: "It's always nice getting compared to that guy.
"Some of the spells he produced when playing for England were amazing to watch.
"I've always said that when the comparisons started flying at me I'm not trying to be anyone else except myself," he added.
"As long as I can produce the moments for the team that swing it our way, and it means we're going to win, that's all I'm trying to do.
"I'm not trying to live up to anyone else's reputation or anything like that.
"I'm just trying to do what I do and trying to keep putting in good performances."
Alastair Cook on Moeen Ali: "It has been an amazing series for Mo, he is a legend.
"He is kind of the glue in our team, he is the unsung hero in one sense.
"He came into the side a few years ago when I was captain as a guy who could balance the side and bowl a little bit of off-spin and now he is the leading wicket taker in the series.
SOUTH AFRICA
Faf du Plessis on Vernon Philander's back injury: "Vernon 100 per cent fit means a lot of things – it means we can look at playing three seamers.
"Vernon at 90 per cent doesn't mean you can do that, because you don't want to be in a position where you have a seamer break down and then you only have two – that basically is the Test match over right there and then.
"So if he's not 100 per cent fit, it's important to maybe have a look at having four seamers."
Du Plessis on South Africa's gameplan: "We'll do everything we can to try to win this Test match – we're not going to try to draw it.
"The way England play, they put pressure on you as opposition, but they (also) give you an opportunity."
England v South Africa: Fourth Test latest news
New fitness blow for Philander
Key South Africa all-rounder Vernon Philander has suffered a back spasm ahead of the must-win fourth Test against England at Old Trafford.
Root impressed by Jennings
England captain Joe Root has been impressed by the maturity shown by Keaton Jennings ahead of the fourth Test against South Africa.
Cook hails 'unsung hero' Moeen Ali
Former England skipper Alastair Cook has described Moeen Ali as England's "unsung hero".
Stokes keen to forge own path
Ben Stokes is determined to keep creating cricket history in his own right as comparisons with Andrew Flintoff inevitably resurface.
Steven Finn retained in England squad
England have retained Steven Finn in an unchanged 13-man squad for the fourth and final Test against South Africa.
Click here for more England v South Africa news on our cricket index
England v South Africa: Test series fixtures & results
July 6-10: First Test, Lord's: England won by 211 runs
July 14-18: Second Test, Trent Bridge: South Africa won by 340 runs
July 27-31: Third Test, The Oval: England won by 239 runs
August 4-8: Fourth Test, Old Trafford
England lead the series 2-1