Same side strategy is paying off

If England retain the team that played in the exciting last-wicket draw in the third Test, it will be the first time since late 1800s to resist a change for four matches or more.

England are a draw away from winning their second consecutive Test series in South Africa, but an achievement of a different type looms before the start of tomorrow's decisive Test at Wanderers. Since the late 1800s, England have never been able to field an unchanged team in a series of four matches or more. They will achieve that if they be able to pick the same players who defeated South Africa in the second Test and battled for an exciting last-wicket draw in the last match.

Consistency in selection has been a big part of the coach Andy Flower's plans to make England one of Test cricket's foremost nations, and the strategy has paid dividends with victories in the previous two series against Australia and West Indies. Having a settled team, according to the wicketkeeper Matt Prior, has been a big help, but he highlighted the contribution of the non-playing members in England's success story. "It does play a part. Guys feel comfortable in their roles," said Prior about the prospect of fielding the same team again tomorrow.

"You go out with the same XI for a few games in a row, and you do have that camaraderie. But this whole squad is very, very tight - No 1 to No 15. The guys in this series who haven't played have worked probably harder than the guys who have. "It's a very unrewarding job, and the way they've added a huge amount to the team has shown the kind of environment we have." Prior has been a member of the XI and has made some telling contributions behind the stumps and in front of them with two half-centuries. But he has not been entirely satisfied with his batting form. "It's been a weird series for me individually," he said. "I've managed to get a couple of scores but I've not gone into the series feeling in great form with the bat." @Email:[e-mail]