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Summary A fascinating showdown between world's top two test teams begins at The Oval on Thursday.
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 allrounder Jacques Kallis said. Youve got to play some 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.James Anderson believes England will have to be patient as never before if they are to maintain their world number one Test ranking against a South Africa side who are masters of playing under pressure.South Africa will replace England at the top of the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings if they emerge victorious in a three-Test series that gets underway at The Oval here on Thursday.Both sides boast arguably the worlds two best pace attacks, with Anderson leading an England line-up that includes the likes of Stuart Broad.South Africa are set to give the new ball to Dale Steyn, officially the worlds leading Test bowler and a genuine quick whose record stands comparison with some of the games all-time greats.Steyn is set to be supported by paceman Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander, who in just seven Test has already taken a staggering 51 wickets while a further seam bowling option is provided by veteran all-rounder Jacques Kallis.Meanwhile the Proteas batting order boasts of four players in the worlds top 10 and England spearhead Anderson told Sky Sports: Its going to be a huge challenge.The last couple of times South Africa have been over here theyve played really well and beaten us. Both attacks have shown in the last 18 months that they are strong units. I think itll be a good battle.Its going to be really important that our bowling attacks on top form because their batting units really strong.I see theyve got six key wickets, theyve got such a strong batting line-up that every wickets crucial. Theyve got some great players in there and were going to have to be on the top of our game.Were looking forward to it, we like testing ourselves against the best in the world and theres four of their guys in the top 10, so it should be a good challenge.South Africa probably soak up pressure better than anybody else in the world, so we might have to be more patient than we have in recent series and thats going to be our biggest test.The Proteas were the last visiting side to win a Test series in England, back in 2008, and Anderson added: A lot of the guys played in that series, were well aware of it.They played really well last time they were over here and theyre going to be strong in our conditions with both the bat and the ball.But confidence is high, were really excited to be playing such a strong team.Its going to be a really tough three-match series for us, were going to have to be on top form to have chance of winning.Several of Englands leading batsmen have been in good form recently, including South Africa-born Kevin Pietersen, always a prize wicket for the Proteas especially.Pietersen scored 80 and 78 in his last two Tests against the West Indies and an unbeaten 234 for Surrey against county champions Lancashire, having opted out of limited overs internationals.Anderson refused to be drawn on talk Pietersen could reverse his decision but said: Something were excited about is the form hes shown this summer.Hes carried it on from the IPL (Indian Premier League) and hopefully he can carry it on to end of this series.
