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Even by England's , it's an edge-of-seat scenario.

One match to decide the series, on a pitch that rules out a draw, in the most antagonistic stadium in the country; green grass on the track, thunderstorms overhead and a wounded, hostile opposition ready to throw caution to the clouds.

Win, and England will have secured successive series victories over their two biggest cricketing rivals. Lose, and the critical carpers who say they have only been lucky last-wicket stands away from double defeat will be shouting all the louder.

First to the pitch.

Forget the sizzling sun of Cape Town and the coast. Johannesburg saw a quarter as much rain again in December as it normally would, and it's only got wetter since then (13 days into January, the city has already received as much rain as it would normally expect in the entire month). At Wednesday lunchtime, prior to its final preparation by groundsman Chris Scott, the pitch looked like a khaki and emerald patchwork quilt - hard and dry in places, extravagantly grassed in others.

This specific strip was last used for the and then it gave substantial assistance to the quick bowlers - not least England's trio of James Anderson, Graham Onions and Stuart Broad in the win over Sri Lanka. Wanderers tracks historically produce results too; you have to go back 10 years to find the last Test draw there, and even then the three days lost to bad weather were a major factor.

"The bowlers have got something to work with," says Scott. "There's a bit more grass on the pitch, and over five days - if it lasts that long - the pitch will deteriorate."

South Africa coach Mickey Arthur had asked Scott to leave it green and grassy, but there will be few complaints from England - not only because they were similarly specific in requesting a crumbling turner from the Oval's Bill Gordon for , but also because such conditions may arguably suit their attack even more than the hosts.

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