1st Test match “England vs South Africa” will go live on Thursday 26 – Monday 30 December 10:00 am local time / 08.00 am GMT at Supersport Park, Centurion, South Africa.
Before this upcoming test series, England and South Africa already have played 1,1 series in ICC Test World Championship. According to ICC Test World Championship Points Table, England played 5 test matches of one series and South Africa played 3 test matches of one series.
The complete statistics of ICC Test World Championship 2019-2021 as follow:
England has lost key players to disease, while South Africa, with its revised structure, is on the mend. The two teams, both wounded but dangerous, are hungry to try each other out.
Both England and South Africa are playing their second ICC Test Championship series. While England is in third place with two wins, South Africa is the last country to be defeated by India.
However, there is new optimism among the men at Faf du Plessis. She has been revived by a new coaching team with Mark Boucher and Jacques Kallis, Charl Langeveldt and Paul Harris in advisory functions. Graeme Smith is the acting CSA cricket director. They will also give test debuts to Rassie van der Dussen and all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius. Since Temba Bavuma is out due to injury, it is up to van der Dussen and Quinton de Kock to secure the middle order.
South Africa fans, are you ready for the Boucher era? 🧤😍#SAvENG pic.twitter.com/1qyxBxkg2W
— ICC (@ICC) December 24, 2019
England, meanwhile, has many concerns that a virus has hit the camp. While Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer have recovered and are likely to play, Chris Woakes has been disappointed. Jack Leach, the spinner who was hit by Gastro on the New Zealand tour, was also sick in South Africa. Even more serious: Ben Stoke’s father was seriously ill and hospitalized. While the all-rounder missed training for his father on Tuesday, the board confirmed that he was available for training on the eve of the game.
Sam Curran and Jonny Bairstow are the most likely successors to the XI if it should be. The good news for visitors is that Pacer James Anderson will be playing his first test since he limped off the ashes in August.
Do you want to know what happened in the last test match between England and South Africa?
England won the Basil D’Oliveira Trophy in tests between the teams in the last two matches. Ben Stokes, Joe Root, and Jonny Bairstow ensured a 2-1 win the last time they were in South Africa for a Test series in 2015/16. Then, when South Africa came to visit a four-game series in 2017, Roots Men, led by Moeen Ali’s efforts, ended the game 3-1. The recent encounter of the teams across all formats took place in the opening game of the ICC’s World Cricket Championship – Men 2019 took place when Stokes’ all-round feats gave the hosts a sweeping win in 104 runs.
The last time South Africa played a Test against England in Centurion?
— ICC (@ICC) December 24, 2019
A 20-year-old Kagiso Rabada took 13 wickets in the match as the hosts secured a victory by 280 runs. pic.twitter.com/Cnc0tioFa3
Captain’s View:
Joe Root (England):
“We have additional people here and it’s a good squad that allows us to build a competitive team no matter how. It’s frustrating but we have to deal with it … I’ve never been met a South African team that doesn’t play with pride and passion. And I don’t expect anything else at Centurion. They are good in their own terms. “
Faf du Plessis (South Africa):
“We are still in our childhood as a test team and it is planned to get back to number one but that will take some time. We have to mature, we have a year and a half of the Test World Cup. The plan is to get out there and play a little bit better every time we go out. “
Weather Conditions For “South Africa vs England” 1st Test Live | ICC Test World Championship 2019-2020 | Thursday 26 December
Centurion is expected to get hot during the first two days of the test. On Friday evening there is a little rain, which later leads to a slight drop in temperature.
Teams Squads For “South Africa vs England” 1st Test | ICC Test World Championship 2019-2021
South Africa Squad Against England
Faf Du Plessis(Captain), Temba Bavuma, Quinton Dekock, Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Beuran Hendricks, Keshav Maharaj, Pieter Malan, Aiden Markaram, Anrich Nortije, Dane Paterson, Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Rudi Second, Rassie Van Der Dussen
England Squad Against South Africa
Joe Root(Captain), James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam curran, Joe Denly, Jack leach, Craig Overton, Matt Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
The complete schedule of England tour of South Africa with time and date is available as follow below web page
