The Proteas have named their beginning XI for the Boxing Day Test towards Pakistan at SuperSport Park in Centurion.

Corbin Bosch will make his Test debut.

Play is because of begin at 10:00.

There’s quite a bit on the road for South Africa, though Pakistan will wish to hold their mathematical however immensely distant hopes of a World Test Championship (WTC) remaining spot alive.

It’s been six years since Pakistan have visited these shores for a Test sequence – a spot so lengthy there are few widespread gamers on both facet to have performed within the final one.

South Africa are on a roll on this two-year cycle.

They’ve gained 5 of their final six Tests (the opposite was a draw), and held India 1-1 at house.

The quirk of this format implies that the less Tests you play, the higher.

They would possibly make the ultimate regardless of sending a third-string reserve facet to New Zealand in the course of the SA20 to lose 2-0.

Despite that, they should win one of many two Tests right here to be assured a spot.

Pakistan have had a harder cycle.

They dispatched Sri Lanka at house, however have been clean-swept in Australia after which at house to Bangladesh.

They have been trying in serious trouble when England bashed them for 823 runs in 150 overs in Multan, however a swift flip in strategy noticed their two veteran spinners cause them to two Test wins.

Their hopes of qualification requires South Africa to be penalised factors for a sluggish over fee, after which successful each Tests right here after which their two towards the West Indies.

This state of affairs requires the Australia-India sequence to finish favourably too.

It’s unlikely a WTC remaining is their focus now, however all they’ll do is try to win their final 4 Tests and see the place the opposite outcomes take them.

Pakistan have made a few adjustments to the squad that got here from behind to beat England 2-1 at house.

Babar Azam and Naseem Shah are again after being dropped for the second and third Tests, although Shaheen Shah Afridi has not been included.

This marks a basic decline within the red-ball format for the left-armer, and he might not be a precedence within the format.

The want for only one spinner implies that Noman Ali has been most well-liked over Sajid Khan, who took 19 wickets in two Tests towards England.

Two pacers have been drafted in to interchange spinners Abrar Ahmed and Zahid Mehmood.

Khurram Shahzad is again after a rib harm – he had taken six towards Bangladesh again in August.

Excitingly, Mohammad Abbas is again after three years.

The skilled seamer is the one quick bowler within the squad who was additionally within the facet for Pakistan’s final Test tour to South Africa in 2018-19.

Spinners Abrar Ahmed and Zahid Mahmood, together with reserve gamers Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mohammad Ali, Mohammed Huraira and Mehran Mumtaz have been dropped too. 

South Africa making the Test remaining could be a major achievement.

They have been dominant in world tournaments recently – the ODI facet made the World Cup semi-finals and the T20I facet have been so near a remaining.

No one would begrudge them their time within the sunshine.

But first, they should win.

Players to observe

Temba Bavuma is in nice type. He scored 70, 113, 78 and 66 towards Sri Lanka. He made his Test debut precisely ten years in the past on Boxing Day towards West Indies. He has typically been criticised however has been regular usually on this format and is now making constant scores to silence the haters for good. He’s been their greatest batter this yr – and 7 different South Africans have hit tons of this yr. 

Naseem Shah’s Test profession is but to actually take off. There is an opportunity he has been over-bowled in latest occasions, amidst harm considerations. Conditions in South Africa would possibly swimsuit him properly – excessive tempo is required to make an affect in Centurion. He’s by no means performed right here earlier than, so it is a good likelihood for him. Dropped after the primary Test debacle in Multan, he’s again with some extent to show.

Stat assault

South Africa have a 12-2 (one draw) file towards Pakistan in house Tests.

South Africa have gained 9 of the final ten Tests held in Centurion – solely India defeated them in 2021.

The Proteas’ gamers have had ten Test centuries this yr – they haven’t managed this a lot since 2017.

Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique are averaging 8 as a gap partnership in Tests. They’ve hit 96 runs collectively in 12 Test innings. Four of these have ended on zero.

Mohammed Abbas’ inclusion (and Afridi’s exclusion) makes him the bowler with essentially the most Test wickets within the squad – 90. 

Kyle Verreynne is the one keeper to hit two Test centuries in 2024. 

Kagiso Rabada has 57 Test wickets at Centurion, the second highest of all time. He wants three to overhaul Dale Steyn on 59.

How do you foresee the two-Test sequence pans out?

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