England take on South Africa in the decisive third Test of the series, with play beginning on Thursday.
After two one-sided Tests saw both teams win by an innings, neutrals will be hoping for a much more competitive encounter at the Oval.
Match preview
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Indeed, having succumbed to a miserable innings and 12-run defeat to South Africa in the first Test at Lord's, England bounced back brilliantly to inflict a similar defeat on their opponents at Old Trafford to make it a celebratory August Bank Holiday weekend.
After dazzling opening bowling displays from veterans James Anderson and Stuart Broad helped reduce South Africa to 151 runs in the first innings, Ben Foakes and captain Ben Stokes both scored centuries as part of a sensational 173-run sixth-wicket partnership, significantly contributing to England's lead of 264 having declared on 415 runs.
Stokes took two crucial wickets in the second innings, too, dismissing Keegan Petersen and Rassie van der Dussen in successive overs after the middle order duo had combined for an 87-run fourth-wicket partnership to fleetingly provide hope of a miraculous comeback from the visitors.
From that moment onwards, though, the result was never in question, with Ollie Robinson's pace and Anderson's swing dismantling the lower order, who contributed just seven runs in total as the duo took five wickets in the space of only 30 wickets.
With 103 runs and four wickets to his name overall, Stokes rightly scooped the player-of-the-match award, as his combination of growing leadership skills and raw ability helped wrestle back the series to 1-1 ahead of Thursday's play in Surrey.
However, he will be expecting a major reaction from their opponents, who simply have too much quality to play as badly two matches in a row.
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Indeed, there is plenty riding on the third Test for South Africa, who have lost each of their last three Test series' against England in recent years.
England had only won one of the previous six series' since the turn of the century, so there has clearly been a turning of the tide to an extent, even though South Africa remain one place above their opponents in the world Test rankings.
If the Proteas are to win at the Oval, they will likely need similarly blistering performances from their fearsome bowling attack to the ones which saw England blown away at Lord's.
After all, very few nations can match England's depth when it comes to their batting line-up, but there is little doubting South Africa's quality on the bowling front. However, with the Oval traditionally being a flat pitch generally regarded as being good for batting, Dean Elgar's side could be up against it.
Only Kagiso Rabada - player-of-the-match at Lord's having taken five wickets in the first innings - scored more than 21 runs in South Africa's first innings at Old Trafford, which is not something they can repeat if they wish to remain competitive from Thursday onwards.
Team News
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England have named the same squad of 14 players which they took to Old Trafford, with Stokes likely to name an unchanged starting XI having seen his side perform so well at Old Trafford.
Robinson replaced Matthew Potts as the only change at Old Trafford, and having taken five wickets in total after starring in the latter stages of the second Test, it would be remarkable if the 28-year-old does not retain his place in the bowling attack.
Jack Leach is yet to fire on all cylinders with only three wickets to his name across the opening two Tests, but spinners have generally profited at the Oval down the years and this could well be his time to shine.
Likewise, opener Alex Lees has only scored 44 runs across three innings, but having only made his Test debut earlier this year, Stokes and head coach Brendan McCullum are likely to afford the Durham batsman further patience.
Harry Brook - England's only reserve batsman named in the squad - is waiting in the wings should Lees or Zak Crawley prove vulnerable, but it would arguably be a case of chucking the 23-year-old in at the deep end if he was to make his Test debut in a match of such significance.
Potts and Craig Overton, who has not yet featured in this series, are likely to miss out given the excellent form of Broad, Anderson and Robinson with the ball in the previous Test.
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South Africa, meanwhile, will be picking from the same 16 players whom they have brought oversea to England for the summer series.
Like his opposite captain, Elgar made one change to his starting XI at Old Trafford, surprisingly bringing in Simon Harmer for Marco Jansen, who had taken four wickets from just 11.4 overs and scored 48 runs in one innings during his side's dominant display at Lord's.
That decision was one which did not even come close to being vindicated, with Harmer managing a dismal 18 runs across two innings with the bat and only taking one wicket from 23 overs with the ball, so we can expect Jansen to be restored to the lineup at Harmer's expense at the Oval.
Rabada, Ngidi and Nortje should retain their places having generally pulled their weight across the series so far as well as consistently showing their quality down the years, while Keshav Maharaj will hope to receive the nod as South Africa's frontline spinner on a pitch which could suit his qualities more closely.
Aiden Markram's spot in the middle order could be vulnerable, though, having only contributed 36 runs across three innings, with Ryan Rickelton potentially replacing him, particularly as he has recent batting experience in England having joined Northamptonshire earlier this year.
England squad: Ben Stokes (Captain), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes (wk), Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Craig Overton, Matthew Potts, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root
India squad: Dean Elgar (Captain), Sarel Erwee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Keegan Petersen, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Lutho Sipamla, Glenton Stuurman, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Khaya Zondo
Series so far
First Test: South Africa won by an innings and 12 runs
England 165 all out (45 overs)
South Africa 326 all out (89.1 overs)
England 149 all out (37.4 overs)
Second Test: England won by an innings and 85 runs
South Africa 151 all out (53.2 overs)
England 415/9 declared (106.4 overs)
South Africa 179 all out (85.1)
We say: England to win
We expect England to build on their landslide second Test victory and use their momentum to secure a fourth successive Test series win against South Africa.
However, it is likely to be a much closer match than the first two of this series, with any paying fans on day four or day five desperately hoping to see some action.
Brett Curtis
