Under pressure: Mickey Arthur
Just 28 miles from my hotel here in the Johannesburg suburb of Sandton lies the Sun City casino resort. It is dubbed the Las Vegas of Southern Africa. However, it appears the biggest gambler in these parts will be somewhere even closer to where I currently sit - the Wanderers Stadium. And his name? Mickey Arthur.
South Africa's beleaguered coach admits to feeling 'under pressure' as his side go into the series finale 1-0 down to England. It follows, of course, a home Test series defeat by Australia last year and the recent one-day series reversal by Andrew Strauss' side.
If South Africa fail to win the final Test, which starts tomorrow, Arthur knows he is likely to face the bullet. 'Proteas must take risks' cries the headline in today's Johannesburg Star. The city's Times implores the usually conservative Arthur: 'Any move whatsoever to fix what's broken will, in some quarters, be read as panic. Some may call any changes bold, or desperate. But they won't be. They will be sorely needed.'
They need not worry. As well as asking the Wanderers groundsman for a result pitch, Arthur and his captain Graeme Smith - whose safety-first approach contributed to England's last-wicket escapes at Centurion and Cape Town in this series - appear ready to shake up the South African side.
If the talk here is to be believed the indications point towards a debut for 20-year-old left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell, who while excellent in one-day cricket appeared to lack the stamina for the longer form of the game while he was playing for Kent in the County Championship last season. Ryan McLaren, the all-rounder and another former Kent player, also looks set for his first Test in place of the non-spinning spinner Paul Harris. Spinning duties would then pass to JP Duminy. That would see the hosts go into the fourth Test with a four-man pace attack on a ground, and a pitch, where the ball swings more than anywhere else in South Africa.
It is a huge risk, especially as in James Anderson England have one of the best exponents of the swinging ball in world cricket. Hence the gamble.
For England, buoyed by their escape at Newlands, their side will remain unchanged. It will be the first time they have named the same team throughout a series since the 19th century. But a settled side augurs well for the future - as would a series win against a country who were ranked No.1 in the world up until a few weeks ago.
There hasn't been a draw at the Wanderers since 2000. And while the forecasts predict rain for parts of the next five days - it is currently baking hot and it appears if the weather does intervene it will be in late afternoon, when thunderstorms typically hit the High Veld. So it appears Arthur will get his wish - a result. But the gambler may well end up looking like a mug punter if the gods go against South Africa yet again in this series.