England v South Africa - Test ground profiles

For those of you who like to bet on some of the more obscure markets or on the run totals, it is always worth looking back at the past Test history of the respective grounds to be used in a series and with Lord's, Headingley, Edgbaston and the Oval to be used for the England-South Africa battles, there is plenty of history to examine, using the last 10 years as the constant.

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Lord's Cricket Ground, London
The home of cricket. Lord's remains a ground that inspires the best out of touring sides, with a century or a five-wicket haul ensuring a player's name is preserved on the honours board. The huge slope - television does not do it justice - across the ground can cause problems for bowlers, but it is generally a decent pitch, although there has been a result in 70 of the 115 Tests to have been played there. Winning the toss has a slight advantage - the team doing so has won 40 times. But experience is key.

Headingley, Leeds
In the 1970s and 1980s, Headingly became a bowler's dream. A helpful pitch combined with often overcast conditions provided perfect conditions for seam and swing. In recent years, though, Headingley has become a much easier place for batsmen, but nevertheless, in the past 10 years - in the eight Tests to have been played there - there has not been a single draw, with six of the winners having won the toss.

Edgbaston, Birmingham
When used early in the season, as you'd expect for matches played in English conditions, Edgbaston can help swing and seam bowlers, but in the late summer, the pitch settles down to assist batting.

The Oval, London
Venue for the first ever Test match on English soil, in 1880, the Oval has turned into a superb ground, with the pitch offering the pace that fast bowlers love while also offering the batsmen the true bounce that encourages them to attack.

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