England to adopt positive outlook because of dangers of trying to play for draw

Nerve-jangling draws in the first and third Tests, either side of an innings victory in Durban, mean they are 1-0 up with one to play at The Wanderers.

England's hosts have twice been within one wicket of victory in the three matches so far, though, and might so easily have been the ones in the unbeatable position when play begins today.

South Africa have openly admitted a 'result' pitch is being prepared – at a venue where draws are always scarce – amid hints of banking on pace domination to deliver the series-leveller they need.

For England, at stake are the aspirations of a team who have made a telling virtue of hard work since Strauss took over the captaincy, and Andy Flower the coaching, a year ago.

The tourists have been at pains, since they scraped their draw in Cape Town last week, to promise they will not be tempted to sit on their lead.

Strauss repeated that again yesterday, and also cited England's scrapes and successes – at Centurion, Kingsmead, Newlands, and The Oval last summer too – as extra sources of motivation and self-belief to help them achieve their mission improbable.

"At the end of the tour, a lot will be judged on whether we win this game or not," Strauss accepts. "We will be trying to win here and play the same style that has been successful before.

"If you go in with the mindset of only needing to draw it is very dangerous. You get negative, hesitant and you can hand momentum to the opposition."

A shoot-out is in prospect between two potent seam attacks, and two strong batting line-ups.

But Strauss has no doubt that England – sure to stick to their successful selection formula of the previous three matches, barring last-minute injury – have the firepower to prevail.

"We're excited about going out there and winning this game," he said. "We're confident we can take 20 wickets. We did that in Durban, but it won't be easy. This wicket might offer a little more for the bowlers, in which case there is pressure on the batsmen.

"We showed a lot of guts and hunger in the second innings at Cape Town and we'll have to show it again.

"It's a nice feeling to know we can't be beaten in the series, and that adds a bit to our camp.

"But South Africa don't want to be beaten either, and will come hard at us. We've got to be ready to withstand whatever they throw at us."

Graeme Smith, Strauss's opposite number, said: "We have prepared well again. We can take a lot of good things out of the Cape Town Test match.

"We just lacked a knockout punch. But we played really strong cricket over five days and fought back well after a disappointing Durban Test match.

"In two out of three Test matches, we have come close.

"You have to give credit to England's resilience that they have shown in those times. When they have been put under pressure they have handled it well.

"The fact that they have held on for two nine-down draws has created an epic series in many ways."

Fourth test

South Africa (from): GC Smith (captain), A Prince, HM Amla, JH Kallis, JP Duminy, AB de Villiers, MV Boucher (wkt), WD Parnell, M Morkel, DW Steyn, PL Harris, AN Petersen, R McLaren.

England (from): AJ Strauss (captain), AN Cook, IJL Trott, KP Pietersen, PD Collingwood, IR Bell, MJ Prior (wkt), SCJ Broad, GP Swann, JM Anderson, G Onions,

RJ Sidebottom.

Umpires: T Hill (NZ) and S Davis (Aus).

Third umpire: D Harper (Aus).

Match referee: R Mahanama (SL).