Keaton Jennings set to remain at the top of the England order

By Mark Crellin

Image: Keaton Jennings will remain as Alastair Cook's opening partner

Steven Finn has been named in the England squad for the fourth Test against South Africa, which gets underway at Old Trafford on Friday.

And Keaton Jennings is set to continue in his role as Alastair Cook's opening partner, despite having been short of runs in the series so far.

Middlesex seamer Finn replaces Mark Wood in the squad, having initially been called up last week as cover for the Durham man, who was ruled out on the eve of the Oval Test with a sore left heel.

England are 2-1 up in the four-match series after clinching a 239-run win in the third Test on Monday, Moeen Ali taking a hat-trick to wrap things up in style.

And the selectors may be tempted to field an unchanged line-up for Old Trafford, Middlesex seamer Toby Roland-Jones having made a key contribution to the victory after coming into the side to replace Wood.

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Durham opener Jennings made a century in his Test debut against India last December but could only manage scores of 8, 33, 0, 3, 0 in his first five innings of this series, prompting speculation that he might be dropped.

Moeen Ali seals an emphatic 239 run victory for England in the third Test with a dramatic hat-trick, the first by a England spinner since 1938-39 and the first one ever at The Oval

But he survived an early dropped chance to make 48 in the second innings at the Oval and it looks like he will get another chance to cement his position alongside England's all-time leading Test run scorer Cook at the top of the order.

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Middlesex batsman Dawid Malan is also set to be given another opportunity to prove his worth at Test level after managing scores of just one and 10 on debut at The Oval.

Liam Dawson played in the first two Tests and remains in the squad, giving England the option of fielding an extra spinner if they wish.

Image: Steven Finn gives the selectors another pace bowling option

And the experienced Finn, who has 36 Test caps to his name, gives the selectors another option in the bowling department.

But a shake-up of the seam attack is unlikely, barring injury, debutant Roland-Jones having taken 5-57 and 3-72 in the third Test victory.

England squad for fourth Test: Root (c), Cook, Jennings, Westley, Malan, Stokes, Bairstow, Ali, Roland-Jones, Broad, Anderson, Dawson, Finn.

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