South Africa hopes to finish on high at Old Trafford
Faf du Plessis, the South Africa captain, asked his batsmen to take more responsibility as they look to end their tour of England on a positive in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, which begins on Friday.
South Africa was flattened by 239 runs in the third Test at The Oval, leaving it 2-1 down with just one match to play.
A tour that began back in mid-May has already seen South Africa lose the One-Day International and Twenty20 International series to England, with the visiting side suffering a first-round exit in the ICC Champions Trophy as well during its time in England.
But a win at Old Trafford would at least ensure South Africa keep its proud away Test record intact.
In its past 19 series it has won 13, drawn five and lost just one -- in India in 2015-16. But if it is to triumph at Old Trafford -- a ground where its lone Test win in eight visits came back in 1955 -- it will surely need an improved showing from its top order.
Although South Africa was handicapped at The Oval by the stomach illness suffered by Vernon Philander, being bowled out for just 175 in its first innings was the point of no return for the side in the game.
It did make a better showing in the second innings, with Dean Elgar becoming the first South African to hit a century in the series as the side amassed 252. England still won by 239 runs but du Plessis feels Elgar's knock has set a timely example.
South Africa will look to Hashim Amla for a big contribution after the star batsman twice fell cheaply to Toby Roland-Jones, England's debutant seamer in south London.
Moeen Ali ended that match in spectacular fashion with the first hat-trick in The Oval's 100-Test history.
Yet with Moeen, a frontline county batsman, coming in at No. 8, Trevor Bayliss, the England coach, is still not sure his side has got the balance right. But how Bayliss removes a 'spare' batsman from his XI at Old Trafford is an intriguing question.
Keaton Jennings has been struggling but England has no other specialist opener in their squad to partner Alastair Cook. Tom Westley made a fifty on debut at The Oval in at No. 3, so it would be surprising if he was promoted to open alongside Cook.
Liam Dawson remains in the squad after featuring in the first two Tests, but unless the management thinks the Old Trafford pitch will take sharp turn, the left-arm spinner seems set to sit out.
Since 2000, England has won eight and lost just one of 12 Tests at Old Trafford. One encouraging factor for South Africa has been the see-saw nature of this series, with England winning the first Test at Lord's by 211 runs, only for the visiting side to hit back with a 340-run success at Trent Bridge before another comprehensive win by the home side at The Oval.
Teams
England: Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Tom Westley, Joe Root (capt), Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (wkt), Moeen Ali, Toby Roland-Jones, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.
South Africa: Dean Elgar, Heino Kuhn, Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Faf du Plessis (capt), Temba Bavuma, Vernon Philander, Chris Morris, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel.