England vs South Africa one-off Test | Everything you need to know
Written By: Ritwika Dhar
Date: 26-06-2022
Picture Courtesy: Google Images
South Africa's tour of England is going to commence on Monday, June 27 with the one-off Test at Taunton followed by white-ball series of 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is. This will be SA’s first multi-format series against England.
SQUAD DETAILS:
In the absence of South Africa’s regular captain Dane van Niekerk, Sune Luus is going to take charge of the Proteas and she will be leading and playing in the most extended format for the very first time. Other than Marizanne Kapp, Trisha Chetty, Chloe Tryon and Lizelle Lee, all the other 11 players of the 15-member squad have never played a Test before. South African veteran Mignon du Preez recently announced her retirement from the longer formats and will only continue to play in the T20Is. The last time when South Africa played a test match was in 2014 against India in Mysore, Du Preez not only led the side at that time, but she also scored a century in the 1st innings of that match which was the maiden and only Test century in SA’s Test history.
Retirements impacted the selection of team England as well. They have named five young pacers Emily Arlott (out because of Covid-related effects), Lauren Bell, Freya Davies, Alice Davidson-Richards, and Emma Lamb. Previously, another exciting young pacer Issy Wong was picked as a traveling reserve. But now she has been added in the main squad as the replacement of Arlott. This new look attack is a result of England’s most experienced fast bowler Anya Shrubsole calling it a day from international cricket and Katherine Brunt announcing her retirement from Test cricket.
England Test squad: Heather Knight (C), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Kate Cross, Alice Davidson-Richards, Freya Davies, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Amy Jones, Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver, Issy Wong (replacement for Emily Arlott who has been ruled out due to Covid contraction)
South Africa Test and ODI squad: Sune Luus (C), Anneke Bosch, Trisha Chetty, Nadine de Klerk, Lara Goodall, Shabnim Ismail, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Andrie Steyn, Chole Tryon, Laura Wolvaardt, Lizelle Lee, Ayabonga Khaka.
As per the latest reports, Shabnim Ismail and Chloe Tyron have been ruled out from the one-off Test due to injury. Ayabonga Khaka has been ruled out as she is not considered for selection.
Head-to-head stats:
South Africa and England have locked horns in 6 Test matches so far. The first time England toured South Africa for a 4-match Test series was in 1960-61. After that, South Africa visited England in 2003 and played 2 test matches. That was the last time they played test against each other. But South Africa are yet to register a win against them. SA lost 4 games and 2 games ended up on the draw. But this time, despite slight upper-hand England have over SA due to having more experience in Tests and playing in home conditions, this test will still be expected to be evenly contested as both the squads are stacked with newcomers.
Players to watch out for:
Laura Wolvaardt
In the three-day fixture against England A at Arundel, Wolvaardt scored a brilliant 101 off 148. So, before coming into the Test match against England, the ever-classy Wolvaardt is in good touch in the red-ball cricket as well. And cricket experts around the globe rather suggest that she is better suited for test cricket. Nonetheless, watching her playing those picture-perfect cover drives in whites will be a treat.
Heather Knight
England captain Knight’s heroics in the Ashes test at Manuka earlier this year is a tale for ages. She scored 168* in the 1st innings when the rest of the team could only manage to score 110 and 48 in the 2nd innings keeping England in the game. The English team will definitely look up to their skipper in the upcoming test as well.
Sophie Ecclestone
Last year in the Bristol test against India, she bulldozered over the Indian batting line-up with her one 4-for in each of the innings. Being the highest wicket-taker in World Cup and the number 1 bowler in both ODIs and T20Is, she’s in a dream form with the ball this year and potentially can bring her 1st test 5-for.
Marizanne Kapp
In the absence of Ismail and Khaka, the charge of the pace bowling will be on her. With the red ball in hand she will be the biggest weapon for SA and threat for the English batters. As she went wicketless in her 1st Test outing in 2014, this time she will be eyeing to bag a couple of 3-fers or 5-fers.
Lara Goodall
Goodall can be the only left-handed top-order batter from both sides we can watch in that test match. Runs are flowing from her bat right now. She was the highest run-scorer in the ODIs and 3rd highest in the T20Is against Ireland recently and scored a half-century in the 3-day game against England A as well. So, she's a player to watch out for sure.
Sophia Dunkley
This middle-order bat of the England team is going through the form of her life since her debut. In her test debut against India last year, she scored an unbeaten 74 and in that very series, she made her ODI debut and scored yet another 50 in her debut ODI innings. And recently she was the 2nd highest run-scorer for England in the World Cup as well. England’s hopes for piling mountain of runs must rely on her in the upcoming test.
England vs South Africa – Full Schedule
One-off test: Monday, June 27 – Thursday, June 30 at Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton
1st ODI: Monday, July 11 at The County Ground, Northampton
2nd ODI: Friday, July 15 at Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol
3rd ODI: Monday, July 18 at The Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester
1st T20I: Thursday, July 21 at The Could County Ground, Chelmsford
2nd T20I: Saturday, July 23 at New Road, Worcester
3rd T20I: Monday, July 25 at The Incora County Ground, Derby
Live Streaming details
Sony Liv will be streaming the England vs South Africa one-off Test in India starting tomorrow.