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Match factsAugust 11-15, 2016 Start time 11am (1000 GMT)Big PictureLess than four weeks have passed since Pakistan wrapped up a rousing victory at Lords in the first Test, capped by a military-inspired set of press-ups in front of the pavilion, but they return to London with very little of that inspirational vim remaining. Trips to Manchester and Birmingham have resulted in two strength-sapping defeats and it is now England who are flexing their muscles ahead of the Oval encounter.From entering the series ranked fourth in the world, and thanks to Australias unexpected capitulation in Sri Lanka, England can suddenly see a shortcut to No. 1. That would require victory in the final Test and a 3-1 series scoreline (as well as West Indies to hold off India in one of their two remaining matches) but they are moving in the right direction regardless. In contrast to their tightly drilled ascent to No. 1 five years ago, England seem a little surprised to have found themselves wandering around the summit so soon - and Alastair Cook is sticking to his line that they have plenty to learn, whatever the rankings say.An improvement on their record in the final Test of a series is clearly the next matter to address. A draw at The Oval will be enough to give England all nine series trophies but a win would underline the sense of progress rather more emphatically. In recent times, England have finished off Test tours with defeats in Centurion, Sharjah and Barbados, while last summer they were beaten at The Oval and Headingley. Such flakiness is unbecoming of a side with aspirations to be the best in the world.Another reason to guard against complacency is Pakistans good record at The Oval. Putting aside the memory of their forfeiture in 2006 (a game in which they were well placed), Pakistan have secured several memorable wins in south London, including Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis reverse-swinging their way through England in 1992 and victory on their most recent visit, six years ago. By contrast, since England clinched the 2009 Ashes on this ground, they have only beaten India (in 2011 and 2014), while suffering three defeats and a draw.Pakistan will always have Lords and this tour will be remembered for Misbah-ul-Haqs hundred, the heroics of Yasir Shah and the return of Mohammad Amir. But they have a chance to leave with even better memories if they can pull it all together again back in the capital - not to mention an outside shot of reaching No. 1 themselves with a drawn series. The drill sergeants of Abbottabad, just like everyone else, will be watching keenly.Form guideEngland: WWLDW (last five completed matches, most recent first)? Pakistan: LLWWWIn the spotlight Having struggled against Pakistans left-armers, Alex Hales finally produced a substantial contribution with the bat in the second innings at Edgbaston, putting on a vital century stand to help erase Englands deficit. However, he is still waiting for the defining, three-figure innings that will secure his tenure as Test opener for the near future. The final Test of the English summer is often the occasion for auditions but Hales - who has put faith in his technique - is hoping to shut the door on prospective top-order newcomers.As the tour has gone on, confidence in Pakistans batting has steadily eroded. The fortunes of Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan have been divergent but they have common cause to try and finish the series with heads and bats held high. Misbah has coped admirably with the conditions on his first Test experience of England but another defeat would doubtless trigger talk about his age and the captaincy; Younis, though four years younger, is also unlikely to be back again and, 15 years after his first tour here, is in need of an innings to stave of similar talk of retirement.Team news Alastair Cook said England were hoping to play the same team, which would mean Adil Rashid and Jake Ball missing out again. James Vince has recovered from a finger injury sustained attempting to take a catch at Edgbaston but wont field in the slips.England (possible) 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Alex Hales, 3 Joe Root, 4 James Vince, 5 Gary Ballance, 6 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 Steven Finn, 11 James AndersonMickey Arthur hinted at various options for Pakistans selection, with the need for a fifth bowler even more pressing in the second of back-to-back Tests. If Iftikhar Ahmed - who bowls offspin and decently, according to Arthur - wins a Test debut, he would likely come into the side at Mohammad Hafeezs expense but bat in the middle order, with Azhar Ali asked to open. A rare four-Test series has increased the workload on Pakistans pace bowlers and there may also be changes to the attack.Pakistan (possible) 1 Mohammad Hafeez/Iftikhar Ahmed, 2 Sami Aslam, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Asad Shafiq, 7 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 8 Yasir Shah, 9 Mohammad Amir, 10 Sohail Khan, 11 Rahat Ali/Wahab RiazPitch and conditions As before the Ashes Test at The Oval last year, a distinctly green-tinged pitch was on show (although that didnt stop Australia from racking up 481 in an innings win) and Cook suggested it would be suited to pace bowling, with some turn later on. In Surreys last Championship match here, in June, spinners Zafar Ansari and Gareth Batty took 12 wickets between them. The forecast is for a warm finish to the week, which could facilitate the surface breaking up.Stats and triviaA 3-1 series win for England will send them top of the rankings, at least until the completion of Indias tour of the West IndiesAside from forfeiting the 2006 Test at The Oval, Pakistan have not lost at the ground since 1967Chris Woakes needs one more wicket to break James Andersons record of 23 for an England bowler in a Test series against PakistanJoe Root is 60 runs short of 4000 in Tests; if he gets there in his next innings, he will go level with Kevin Pietersen as 14th fastest overallQuotes It would be a great achievement. Weve just got to focus on playing good cricket, weve been consistent the last two games, up against it at times but played some consistent cricket - can we have that same hunger and determination in this game? If we can do that, weve got a good chance of winning.Alastair Cook on Englands quest for all nine series trophiesIn the third Test match, I believe it was some of our mistakes that let England come back into that game. After doing so much well, we were really in the game until the fourth day - even on the last day, until lunch, it was looking like a draw. So the team can do it but we need to combine those performances.Misbah-ul-Haq wants his players to focus on finishing the series well Rockies Jerseys China . The lawyers filed a 33-page amended complaint Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan, expanding on the suit originally filed Oct. 3 in New York Supreme Court. Arbitrator Fredric Horowitz last week refused to compel Selig to testify in the grievance, and Rodriguez then walked out of the hearing without testifying. Colorado Rockies Shirts . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. 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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Just over a week after whipping NHL-leading Montreal 10-1, Columbus had its fans chanting We want 10! late in the second period Saturday night during another blowout.This one wasnt so satisfactory to coach John Tortorella, though.Sam Gagner scored twice, Nick Foligno got a goal and two assists and 13 Blue Jackets had at least a point, helping Columbus rout the St. Louis Blues 8-4.The Jackets demanding coach wasnt as enthused as the home crowd, instead calling out his teams defensive and physical mistakes.We shot the puck and it went in the net, Tortorella said. Its not going to happen that way that often. We need to understand how were playing, not what the score is. As far as the checking part of the game, as far as our sticks. A lot of the little things in the game. Were going to continue to work at that.Alexander Wennberg, Brandon Dubinsky, Markus Nutivaara, William Karlsson and Zach Werenski also scored for Columbus.The Blue Jackets rebounded from a tough loss Thursday night in Boston and have points in six of their last seven games (5-1-1), winning four straight at home. Cam Atkinson added a career-high four assists, and Brandon Saad, Scott Hartnell, Lukas Sedlak and Boone Jenner each had two.Foligno agreed with his coachs assessment, even after thumping a St. Louis team that played in the Western Conference finals last season.I still think weve got a lot to improve on in our game, he said. I didnt like some of our decisions. Its hard sometimes when you get up that fast. But Im not going to take anything away from the win. Its a big win at home.Sergei Bobrovksy, pulled in the first period against the Bruins, stopped 33 shots for the Jackets.Robby Fabbri scored twice and Vladimir Tarasenko and Kevin Shattenkirk also scored for St. Louis, which has lost three straight and five of seven.I think were in a spot right now where were a little dazed by the situation, Shattenkirk said. You look bacck at the last five or six years, we havent really had a run like this at all.dddddddddddd Its new to us and we have to grow out of it. Its not fun. Its frustrating for everyone.Jake Allen stopped eight of 12 shots and was pulled early in the second period. Carter Hutton finished with 14 saves.St. Louis dormant offense finally showed up, but its goaltending was a no show. Tarasenko and David Perron had three assists, but the Blues lost their fourth consecutive on the road by a combined score of 22-7. All St. Louis goals came on the power play.Were not competing at the puck near hard enough and were not firm with it, St. Louis coach Ken Hitchcock said. Thats a bad recipe. It doesnt matter what you do in the offensive zone if youre going to get beat one on one in your own zone.The Blue Jackets led 3-1 after the first period and 7-2 heading into the third.Gagner started it at 2:34 of the first, turning from behind the net and lifting a backhand shot inside the near post.Shattenkirk tied it three minutes later, finishing a rush.Just 8 second after that, Foligno put the Blue Jackets ahead, powering a snapshot off Allen at 6:43 for his sixth.Wennberg scored later in the first, and Gagner, Dubinsky, Nutivaara and Karlsson scored in the second for a 7-1 lead. Fabbri made it 7-2 late in the second.Tarasenko and Fabbri then sandwiched goals around Werenskis tally in the third.Game notes Dubinsky had missed the last two games with a lower-body injury. ... St. Louis and Columbus entered tied as the top penalty killing teams in the league. ... Fabbri played on the first line after being a healthy scratch Thursday in a loss to Nashville.UP NEXTBlues: Welcome Buffalo on Tuesday night to begin a three-game homestand.Blue Jackets: Play five of next six at home, including Washington on Tuesday night. ' ' '