England tour of South Africa 2019/20

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James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow and Mark Wood have returned to the England Test squad for the tour of South Africa starting this month.

Seamer Anderson, 37, has not played for England since suffering a calf injury in the first Ashes Test in August.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Bairstow was dropped for the recent 1-0 series defeat in New Zealand.

Pace bowler Mark Wood has been out since the World Cup final in July because of side and knees injuries.

The uncapped Saqib Mahmood is the only member of the squad for the recent 1-0 series defeat in New Zealand not to be included in the 17-man touring party.

Moeen Ali, who took a break from Test cricket after being dropped during the Ashes, remains unavailable.

England will play four Tests - the first starting on 26 December - three one-day internationals and three Twenty20s in South Africa.


England Test squad for South Africa tour: Joe Root (capt), James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler (wk), Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope (wk), Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.


Anderson, England's all-time leading wicket-taker, bowled only four overs in the Ashes opener against Australia at Edgbaston.

He played two games for Lancashire second XI later in August, but his season was ended when he felt pain in the calf during the second of those.

Part of his recovery has involved using the facilities at Manchester City, and he has been continuing his rehabilitation - along with Wood - at a specialist pace bowling camp in Cape Town, South Africa.

Wood's most recent Test came in the West Indies in February.

"It is not predicted that Mark will be available for selection for the earliest matches," said national selector Ed Smith.

"There is no exact date given for his return, but the medical team is working towards him becoming fully available for selection during the tour."


December

17-18 v SA Invitation XI, Benoni (08:00 GMT)

20-22 v South Africa A, Benoni (08:00 GMT)

26-30 1st Test, Centurion (08:00 GMT)

January

3-7 2nd Test, Cape Town (08:30 GMT)

16-20 3rd Test, Port Elizabeth (08:00 GMT)

24-28 4th Test, Johannesburg (08:00 GMT)

31 v SA Invitation XI, Paarl (08:00 GMT)

February

1 v SA Invitation XI, Paarl (08:00 GMT)

4 1st ODI, Cape Town (d/n) (11:00 GMT)

7 2nd ODI, Durban (d/n) (11:00 GMT)

9 3rd ODI, Johannesburg (08:00 GMT)

12 1st Twenty20 international, East London (d/n) (16:00 GMT)

14 2nd Twenty20 international, Durban (d/n) (16:00 GMT)

16 3rd Twenty20 international, Centurion (12:30 GMT)

[Admin]

England XI (Root 72, Denly 60, Sibley 58) drew with SA Invitational XI 289 (Snyman 79, Rosier 70, Sekhukhune 65)

James Anderson picked up a wicket in his first competitive work-out since August, but England's hopes of fine-tuning their bowling attack ahead of next week's Boxing Day Test were undermined by illness as their opening warm-up finished as a draw in Benoni.

Anderson, who had not bowled in a match situation since aggravating a calf injury during the first Ashes Test, claimed the respectable figures of 1 for 37 in 11 overs, as the SA Invitational XI were bowled out for 289, in reply to England's first-day total of 309 for 4 declared.

However, with three of England's front-line bowlers - senior seamers Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer plus first-choice spinner Jack Leach - all laid low by an illness that has hit the camp, the team's resources were stretched thin, even allowing for the non-first-class nature of the match.

Ben Stokes was also unable to bowl, having arrived late on the tour following the Sports Personality of the Year Awards in Aberdeen on Sunday (although he did field). Mark Wood, who is still recovering from a side strain, was also unavailable, leaving the seam bowling in the hands of Anderson, Sam Curran and Chris Woakes.

"A few guys have gone down a little bit ill, so obviously they're back in the hotel trying to steer clear of everyone," said Woakes. "Hopefully it's not too bad, hopefully it'll be a couple of days out and they'll be back on their feet."

Root ended up bowling himself for 13 overs - more than any of his quicks - while the bulk of England's workload was carried by the legspinner Matt Parkinson, who claimed two late wickets to improve his figures after some rough early treatment in his 20-over spell.

After England had declared on their overnight score, Curran gave England an early boost with two new-ball wickets, including a well-directed outswinger that bowled the left-hander Isma-eel Gafieldien for 2 in his first over.

But the SA XI's innings was built around a trio of half-centuries from Kabelo Sekhukhune, Jacques Snyman and the captain Diego Rosier, as England's threadbare attack was made to work for further breakthroughs.

Anderson ended a 133-run stand for the third wicket when he had Sekhukhune caught behind for 65, and then, 20 runs later, he was in on the action in the field as well, taking the catch that ended Snyman's stay on 79, to give Woakes the first of three wickets in the space of 11 balls.

Later in Woakes' same over, Kyle Simmonds picked out Stokes for a duck, before Sizwe Masondo was caught behind for 4 to leave the SA XI uncomfortably placed on 175 for 6.

They regrouped, however, with Rosier to the fore in a well-crafted 70 from 88 balls, and by the end of an underwhelming day's work, Root and Parkinson were bowling in tandem to save England's quicks from further effort.

Both men duly picked up two wickets, Parkinson bringing the match to an early-afternoon conclusion when No.11 Stephan Tait missed a sweep to be adjudged lbw for 0.

"It's a good run-out for us," said Woakes. "Obviously in the last couple of weeks, we flew back from New Zealand, [had a] week at home in a different climate, then came back out here, so it was a pretty pleasing couple of days for us. It was good to get a run-out, overs in the legs, the usual pre-tour sort of stuff really. We'll take a few positives from it."

On a fairly unresponsive deck, Woakes regularly turned to the short ball in a bid to force a breakthrough, and felt pleased with how he had fared as he continues his recent upturn in fortunes with the Kookaburra ball.

"I'd like to think I'm a bit different bowler, obviously more experienced," he said. "We're always looking at ways to develop skills with the Kookaburra ball, trying to find ways to get it moving. I think in South Africa you might be able to utilise a bit of reverse, particularly in the longer games, so I think I'm a different bowler."

[apm51054]

Bess and Craig Overton called into illness ravaged squad last warmup game also downgraded

[Admin]

England 337 for 5 (Denly 103, Pope 70*, Burns 56) v South Africa A

Joe Denly rose above the sickness that has swept through the England camp, and cemented his No. 3 credentials with a well-crafted century on the opening day of the team's final warm-up match in Benoni.

Denly was eventually run out for 103 from 192 balls, a solid innings featuring 15 fours and one that built on his steady displays in the New Zealand Tests last month. On his watch, England closed the first day on 337 for 5 - a decent work-out for a threadbare squad that has been gutted by a stomach bug in this past week.

Denly's innings did not, however, count as his 30th first-class hundred, as the match had been downgraded to a friendly to allow England's stricken players more time to recover - in particular Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad and Jack Leach, all of whom stayed back at the team hotel instead of travelling to Benoni.

It was, however, a chanceless display - Denly did not benefit from any of the four dropped catches that littered South Africa A's fielding - and it showed tenacity too, as he was one of the many players who had been struggling going into the day's play.

"I don't think I've had it quite as bad as some of the boys, just a mild case of man-flu, so I'm alright now," said Denly at the close. "It was quite a sapping heat out there today so I was a bit tired by the end, but I've loaded up on medication and vitamins and I feel alright now."

England chose to bat first and were given a solid start to their day's work when Rory Burns and Dom Sibley added 60 for the first wicket inside the first 20 overs. But the introduction of Andile Phehlukwayo broke the stand, as Sibley was bowled by his fourth ball of the day for 22.

Burns brought up a measured half-century shortly before lunch, but he was prised out by the second ball after the resumption, as Phehlukwayo found his outside edge on 56, for Kyle Verreyne to take a fine diving catch, one-handed to his left.

Joe Root didn't hang around for long - he was the next to fall for 12, one ball after being dropped on the slog-sweep off Dane Piedt, as Nandre Burger found his outside edge for Reeza Hendricks to cling on at slip.

But Ben Stokes gained some useful time in the middle in a third-wicket stand of 82, although he too had a lucky let-off when he top-edged a bouncer to fine leg on 46. One run later, however, he took on Lutho Sipamla with a big mow down the ground, but failed to clear Dane Piedt at long-off.

His departure at 207 for 4 gave Ollie Pope a chance to spend some useful time in the middle, and he didn't disappoint, showing impressive fluency in reaching 70 not out from 87 balls by the close, with Jos Buttler alongside him on 16.

Despite the reduced status of the match, Denly's innings was his first century in England colours, a feat which didn't go unnoticed, although he was simply pleased to be in a decent vein of form leading up to the Boxing Day Test.

"It's nice to get that first one, obviously it's not a Test match, but a hundred's a hundred and in the couple of games I've played I've managed to spend some time at the crease, so I feel good," he said. "There wasn't too much seam movement for the bowlers and it was a slow wicket too so I took a bit of time to get used to the pace of the ball, but once you got in it was nice to play on."

Asked about the likelihood of England's ill bowlers featuring at any stage of the match, Denly said that he would have to defer to the team's medical staff, but remained optimistic that they'll be fit and ready for Boxing Day.

"I suppose it's not ideal for those guys not to have taken part, but hopefully they've rested up well," he said. "They've all played enough cricket to hopefully come back stronger over the next few days. They are on the mend, getting better each day, so we'll see."

[Admin]

South Africa A 154 for 2 (Petersen 60*) trail England 456 for 7 dec. (Pope 132, Denly 103, Burns 56) by 302 runs

Ollie Pope has down-played any disruption caused by the illness that has swept through the England camp, leaving some of their front-line bowlers in a race to be fit for the Boxing Day Test against South Africa.

Pope was among a number of touring players able to cash in during the three-day warm-up against South Africa A in Benoni, bringing up his first century in an England shirt with a knock of 132 off 145 balls on day two. Earlier, Joe Denly had scored his first hundred for England with 103, Rory Burns posted 56 and Ben Stokes - a late arrival on tour after winning the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in Aberdeen last weekend - made 47 before the visitors declared their first innings on 456 for 7.

James Anderson dismissed opener Reeza Hendricks for just six in another positive step for the England spearhead making his way back from a lengthy absence with a calf injury, and Stokes chimed in with the wicket of Pieter Malan, bowled for 34. Keegan Petersen reached an unbeaten 60 to help steady South Africa A following a stoppage for bad light and was accompanied by Rudi Second, who was 40 not out at the close with the hosts 154 for 2 in reply.

Also read: 'My way is not always the right way' - Boucher on bid for team unity

The match had been changed from a first-class fixture to a friendly after Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad and Jack Leach were struck down by illness, which delayed their arrival in Benoni. The trio took part in a nets session on Saturday and could conceivably take part in the match on the final day, given its downgraded status, although they were expected to continue their recuperation off the field of play.

"We've got a few illnesses in the camp but I think they're all on the mend and hopefully they'll be ready for that first Test when it comes round but I'm all good and everyone on the pitch is all good as well," Pope said.

"It's obviously been a bit of a strange game, having this not being the first-class game so we can play a few more. We didn't know how it was going to pan out, when the boys were going to be back fit, if they were going to be able to bowl tomorrow or not, but I wouldn't say it's been disruptive at all.

"The boys that have been fit and well, we've been able to get on with our training, we've had a really good week's preparation for that first Test on Boxing Day."

Pope did not mind his century not counting towards his first-class figures, having finally converted a strong start after scoring 88 in another warm-up match, against New Zealand A last month, followed by 75 in the second Test against New Zealand.

"It was a good feeling getting the first one out the way," he said. "If it was the first Test it would be even nicer but it's more a preparation for the first Test. I felt really good out in the middle, obviously I've got those runs under my belt but it's all about getting ready for that first Test now."

Pope credited the senior members of the England side with allowing newer players such as himself - he has played just four Tests - to feel comfortable immediately.

"I've only played four games but I think the environment the boys create in the dressing room, you automatically feel settled into the side," he said. "Everyone is made really welcome and the bigger characters, the bigger players in the side, they sort of integrate you and you don't know the difference between someone playing their first or their 150th game.

"I feel good in the side. It's nice to get that first score under my belt in New Zealand and hopefully I can kick on from there."

Expecting quicker and bouncier wickets in South Africa compared to New Zealand, Pope believed he had the game to adapt to the different surfaces and bowling attack, and he dismissed suggestions it was a good time to play the hosts, given the off-field turmoil that has seen them appoint a new coaching and administrative staff this month.

"There's a lot of chat about that but, looking at their side, they've got some amazing players," Pope said. "They've got a new look in their coaching staff. What goes on off the pitch I don't think always necessarily affects what happens on the pitch, so we're not going to take anything for granted and we're going to expect some really strong opposition."

[chris]

Dec 22, 2019 8:28:03 GMT Admin said:

South Africa A 154 for 2 (Petersen 60*) trail England 456 for 7 dec. (Pope 132, Denly 103, Burns 56) by 302 runs

Ollie Pope has down-played any disruption caused by the illness that has swept through the England camp, leaving some of their front-line bowlers in a race to be fit for the Boxing Day Test against South Africa.

Pope was among a number of touring players able to cash in during the three-day warm-up against South Africa A in Benoni, bringing up his first century in an England shirt with a knock of 132 off 145 balls on day two. Earlier, Joe Denly had scored his first hundred for England with 103, Rory Burns posted 56 and Ben Stokes - a late arrival on tour after winning the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in Aberdeen last weekend - made 47 before the visitors declared their first innings on 456 for 7.

James Anderson dismissed opener Reeza Hendricks for just six in another positive step for the England spearhead making his way back from a lengthy absence with a calf injury, and Stokes chimed in with the wicket of Pieter Malan, bowled for 34. Keegan Petersen reached an unbeaten 60 to help steady South Africa A following a stoppage for bad light and was accompanied by Rudi Second, who was 40 not out at the close with the hosts 154 for 2 in reply.

Also read: 'My way is not always the right way' - Boucher on bid for team unity

The match had been changed from a first-class fixture to a friendly after Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad and Jack Leach were struck down by illness, which delayed their arrival in Benoni. The trio took part in a nets session on Saturday and could conceivably take part in the match on the final day, given its downgraded status, although they were expected to continue their recuperation off the field of play.

"We've got a few illnesses in the camp but I think they're all on the mend and hopefully they'll be ready for that first Test when it comes round but I'm all good and everyone on the pitch is all good as well," Pope said.

"It's obviously been a bit of a strange game, having this not being the first-class game so we can play a few more. We didn't know how it was going to pan out, when the boys were going to be back fit, if they were going to be able to bowl tomorrow or not, but I wouldn't say it's been disruptive at all.

"The boys that have been fit and well, we've been able to get on with our training, we've had a really good week's preparation for that first Test on Boxing Day."

Pope did not mind his century not counting towards his first-class figures, having finally converted a strong start after scoring 88 in another warm-up match, against New Zealand A last month, followed by 75 in the second Test against New Zealand.

"It was a good feeling getting the first one out the way," he said. "If it was the first Test it would be even nicer but it's more a preparation for the first Test. I felt really good out in the middle, obviously I've got those runs under my belt but it's all about getting ready for that first Test now."

Pope credited the senior members of the England side with allowing newer players such as himself - he has played just four Tests - to feel comfortable immediately.

"I've only played four games but I think the environment the boys create in the dressing room, you automatically feel settled into the side," he said. "Everyone is made really welcome and the bigger characters, the bigger players in the side, they sort of integrate you and you don't know the difference between someone playing their first or their 150th game.

"I feel good in the side. It's nice to get that first score under my belt in New Zealand and hopefully I can kick on from there."

Expecting quicker and bouncier wickets in South Africa compared to New Zealand, Pope believed he had the game to adapt to the different surfaces and bowling attack, and he dismissed suggestions it was a good time to play the hosts, given the off-field turmoil that has seen them appoint a new coaching and administrative staff this month.

"There's a lot of chat about that but, looking at their side, they've got some amazing players," Pope said. "They've got a new look in their coaching staff. What goes on off the pitch I don't think always necessarily affects what happens on the pitch, so we're not going to take anything for granted and we're going to expect some really strong opposition."

I see there was a half century for Rudi Second.  He had very impressive figures a few years back when pro for Milnrow.

Century maker Keegan Petersen also been pro and sub-pro all over the Lancs Leagues.  Likewise Pieter Malan.

On the BBC it says: "England will trust Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad and Jack Leach to decide if they are fit to play the first Test against South Africa after all three missed the warm-up games because of illness."

Wasn't that what the present England Management's view was prior to Anderson's four overs in the Ashes?

[Admin]

Archer doubtful, Broad likely to be the only one that plays.

South Africa A 325 for 5 (Petersen 111*, Anderson 3-41) drew with England 456 for 7 dec. (Pope 132, Denly 103, Burns 56)

Joe Root says that England will be relying on "trust either way" as they weigh up the pros and cons of playing Stuart Broad, Jofra Archer and Jack Leach in this week's Boxing Day Test at Durban, despite all three of them missing the warm-up phase of the tour due to illness.

The trio were unable to take part in the final day of England's second practice match at Benoni - which had been downgraded to a friendly to give them a chance of taking part - but did at least spend a second afternoon in the nets as they begin to recover their match fitness with the first Test now just four days away.

In their absence, England were given a stiff work-out by the South Africa A batsman Keegan Petersen, whose hard-earned century formed the basis of their total of 325 for 5. The match was called off as a draw shortly after his dismissal for 111, with England declining the chance to give Craig Overton and Dom Bess - the squad's newly arrived reinforcements - a chance to stretch their legs in the final session of the match.

Root admitted he had been taken by surprise when the teams shook hands in the middle before the scheduled tea break, but insisted that England's preparations had been "as good as can be" in the circumstances. "We've managed the illness as best we can. And in terms of the two games, we've got a huge amount out of them," he said.

The biggest positives revolved around the batting form of Joe Denly and Ollie Pope, both of whom made their first centuries for England in posting 456 for 7 declared in the first innings, and the successful return to action of James Anderson, who bowled with control and some penetration to claim 3 for 41 in 19 overs, his first proper work-out since aggravating a calf injury during the Ashes in August.

"We had two guys making hundreds and getting to 450, which is becoming a habit in terms of the mindset and process," said Root. "And there was Jimmy coming back and playing as he did, hitting his straps really well."

Anderson, 37, had missed England's tour of New Zealand while undergoing intensive fitness work at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium, and he also arrived in South Africa early to acclimatise at England's pace-bowling camp in Potchefstroom. And Root believed that the benefits of his preparation were clear, not just in his display during the match, but in the example it set.

ALSO READ: Archer, Root on South Africa hit-list

"You can see the benefit of his time off," said Root. "He's worked really hard physically and looks in great shape, probably as strong as we've seen him. And it showed in his performance. It's really pleasing and a great example to the rest of the guys, at the age he is, to still have the desire and hunger to take that time, improve himself and come back and perform like that."

However, given that Anderson broke down after just four overs of his last Test, against Australia at Edgbaston, there are clear concerns about over-burdening him should he play in the Centurion Test, particularly if Broad and Archer are still feeling their own way back to full strength.

Root, however, was adamant that the bowlers themselves - and Broad in particular as the senior player among the ill trio - would play a key role in assessing their ability to take the strain of a five-day match.

"He's got more experience of getting through games and managing his body," said Root of Broad. "He's been quite savvy when he's had niggles in a Test match or not felt 100 percent. It's very rare that guys go into a game carrying an illness, and so he'll be making an honest call about whether he can get through five days.

"If he's as close to 100 percent as possible, he'll tell us, and if not, a big part of it is that you don't want to let the rest of the guys down, and say that you're fit to play when you are not, and end up pulling up and putting a workload on the rest of the team.

"It'll be a fine balance, there will be a bit of trust either way in making sure the right decision is made, but we'll do absolutely everything we can to get those guys ready to go. It's not ideal, but these things happen in Test cricket and we have to get on with it."

England's squad has now swollen to 19 players with the arrival of Overton and Bess, and although that does also include Mark Wood, who is not expected to be ready for action before the New Year, Root said that the abundance of bowling options could allow England to take a staggered approach to the two festive Tests, with some of the returning players held back until the second Test in Cape Town on January 3.

"The beauty of the squad we've got here is the variety of the attack and the number of different options we can go to," said Root. "The reason we brought the amount of guys out was to be ready for each Test match, and if it means we can play a different side then we are in a position to do that, whether it's through fitness or illness, or just a selection thing."

Root didn't rule out the possibility of going into the Boxing Day Test with no specialist spinner - just as England did in their most recent Test, against New Zealand in Hamilton last month.

"It's certainly an option, but it's not necessarily the way we'll go." he said. "We'll look at the conditions, see how the wicket deteriorates over the course of the week, and put all that together and make a smart decision."

[Admin]

FIRST TEST CENTURION PARK 26/12/2019 TO 30/12/2019

Supersport Park is a cricket ground in Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa.

It was renamed from Centurion Park after television company Supersport bought shares in the stadium. The capacity of the ground is 22,000.

The Titans cricket team, have played most of their home games here since 2004. The ground was home to the Titan's predecessor team Northerns (cricket team) (previously Northern Transvaal) since 1986.

This ground was a venue for 2003 Cricket World Cup and the Indian Premier League 2009 which took place in South Africa. It was also selected as a venue for ICC Champions Trophy 2009 and hosted the final on 5 October 2009, one of the greatest achievements for this stadium. Sachin Tendulkar also scored his 50th Test Match century on this ground.[1][2]

It hosted an Australian rules football practice match in 2008 between Carlton and Fremantle.

Supersport Park also hosted a domestic and continental Sixes tournament, where home side, the Titans, came out on top in the domestic competition, and South Africa winning the continental competition against Kenya in the final.

From 2018/19 summer the ground usually hosts the Boxing Day Test.



Records and statistics
First Test South Africa v England - Nov 16-20, 1995
last Test South Africa v Pakistan - Dec 26-28, 2018

First ODI South Africa v India - Dec 11, 1992
Last ODI South Africa v Sri Lanka - Mar 6, 2019

First T20I South Africa v Australia - Mar 29, 2009
Last T20I South Africa v Sri Lanka - Mar 22, 2019

[apm51054]

We win toss and bowl play 5 seamers I despair

[Admin]

South Africa 79-3 at lunch Jimmy wicket first ball of the game

[Admin]

South Africa 284 all out (de Kock 95, Philander 35, Curran 4-57) v England

Peaky bowlers and some blind resistance, Sam Curran defied both to capture four wickets and lead England into a comfortable position at the close of play on the opening day of the first Test against South Africa at Centurion, despite the clear discomfort of several of his team-mates on and off the pitch.

With Stuart Broad toiling gallantly, though still showing some signs of fatigue after being bedridden for days with the illness that has swept through the England camp, Jofra Archer well below his best having suffered from the same bug and Ben Stokes spending a large chunk of time off the field feeling unwell after tea, Curran took charge of the tourists' five-pronged pace attack after Joe Root had won the toss and sent the hosts in.

Curran's haul of 4 for 57 from 19 overs included the important wicket of Quinton de Kock, who appeared almost oblivious to his side's plight when he came in with South Africa floundering at 97 for 4 and raced to a 45-ball fifty. But, just as his century came into sight, de Kock was tempted by a Curran ball of impeccable length and with a hint of movement, edging to keeper Jos Buttler to be out for 95 off 128 deliveries.

Curran had also broken up an 87-run partnership for the sixth wicket between de Kock and debutant Dwaine Pretorius when he had the latter caught by Root at first slip for 33 off 45.

Earlier it looked like James Anderson - playing his 150th Test - might have slotted seamlessly back into his role as England spearhead after five months out with a calf injury when he had opener Dean Elgar out to a leg-side strangle on the first ball of this four-Test series. But a period of frustration followed as Anderson and Broad struggled to make further inroads.

Curran came on at first change, however, and after seeing his initial delivery pounded through the covers for four by Aiden Markram and an edge off the same batsman fall just short of slip two balls later, he had Markram out to an errant shot, chipping straight to Jonny Bairstow at midwicket.

More frustration followed for England's bowlers with Faf du Plessis and Zubayr Hamza posing a threat before a timely breakthrough from Broad sent Hamza on his way, caught at second slip by Stokes for 39. Hamza had looked comfortable and balanced, as exemplified by a gorgeous cover drive to the boundary off Broad upon which he held his pose like a statue and moved to 39. But then, on the very next ball, the 24-year-old Hamza - playing his third Test - prodded at a Broad delivery he could well have left outside off to Stokes, who held a the low catch with ease.

When Curran had South Africa's other debutant, Rassie van der Dussen for just 6 off 34 balls with a clever delivery angled across the right-hander and landing safely in the mits of Root at first slip via an edge, they could take some encouragement from producing a much-needed wicket in difficult circumstances.

England consolidated when Broad had du Plessis caught by Root for 29. It was Broad's 400th Test wicket this decade and put South Africa in trouble at 111 for 5. But that was the cue for de Kock and Pretorius to mount their resistance.

De Kock struck three boundaries in five balls off Curran from the first nine deliveries he faced. His 18th Test fifty included nine fours and meant he had made six 50+ scores in eight Test innings at home this year.

De Kock's innings was not without a nervous moment - or two, both off Root. He sent a Root delivery high into the air over the bowlers head, but it dropped just short of Anderson as he and Archer ran in from mid-off and mid-on when the batsman was not out 24. Then, on 35, de Kock edged Root to slip, where Stokes was unsure whether it had carried to him. With umpire Chris Gaffaney suggesting it hadn't, the soft signal of not out stood.

Once Curran had dismissed both, Archer chimed in with the wicket of Keshav Maharaj, a lean return on a tough day. England remained without the bowling services of Stokes, who returned to the field after spending time in the shade attempting to rehydrate. When Broad removed Kagiso Rabada in his second over with the second new ball, and on the last delivery of the day, he looked thrilled - and exhausted.

"That was very nice," Curran told Sky Sports of Broad's last wicket, which gave him 3 for 52 off 17.4 overs. "Rooty wanted that two or three overs with the new ball to try and strike. It was tough work but I thought we stuck at it pretty well."

On de Kock, Curran said: "You watch him in one-day cricket, he just plays his shots. In Tests he plays his natural game. Fair play to him, he played his way and he got to a good score."

[Admin]

South Africa 72 for 4 (van der Dussen 12*, Archer 2-37) and 284 lead England 181 (Denly 50, Philander 4-16) by 175 runs

South Africa's bowlers, led gallantly by the retiring Vernon Philander, put their side in a commanding position before a cache of top-order wickets left England with some hope after an intriguing second day at Centurion.

Philander did not concede a run from his opening five-over spell, which yielded one wicket, before finishing with the remarkable figures of 4 for 16 off 14.2 overs as England were restricted to just 181 in response to South Africa's first-innings 284. He was well supported by strike bowling partner Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, the latter critically accounting for middle-order danger men Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow as the hosts thrived where the visitors had toiled the day before.

But, with the second-day pitch offering just enough variation and bounce to sow some uncertainty in the batsmen's minds, England's bowlers were able to make inroads late in the final session, sending South Africa to the close at 72 for 4 with debutant Rassie van der Dussen not out 12 and nightwatchman Nortje on four.

South Africa had resumed on 277 for 9 before Stuart Broad had Philander caught behind by Jos Buttler for 35 with the 11th ball of the day. Broad, who had dismissed Rabada with the last ball of the opening day, finished South Africa's first innings with four wickets, as did Sam Curran.

Philander and Rabada had England floundering at 15 for 2 early in their reply. Philander dismissed Rory Burns in the fourth over of the innings, caught behind by Quinton de Kock with a beautiful delivery that zeroed in on off stump and clipped the bottom of the glove.

Burns had already produced one nervous moment when he seemed to take his time in calling for a review when he was given out, caught behind off Rabada, on the first ball of the innings. Replays showed Burns had merely clipped his front pad with the bat rather than the ball and the decision was overturned.

Rabada had Dom Sibley caught behind in a messy dismissal that initially wasn't given out by umpire Paul Reiffel, prompting a review from South Africa before Sibley walked. Joe Denly called Sibley back to wait for the DRS result, but Reiffel instructed Sibley to keep walking as his reaction had suggested he'd hit the ball, which was confirmed on replay.

Joe Root and Denly were given a tough examination by Philander and Rabada and Root had to be checked over by the physio after being struck a heavy blow on the helmet by a Rabada bouncer, though he was given the all-clear. Denly, on nought, survived a dropped catch a short time later when he edged Rabada towards slip van der Dussen, who grassed the chance as de Kock dived across him.

The England pair set about launching a rescue mission, pushing their team to 60 for 2 at lunch, but Philander, who conceded his first run - a single to Root - on the 34th ball he bowled, struck with his 37th when he tempted Root down the pitch and found an edge that went through to de Kock.

Denly shared a 72-run stand for the fourth wicket with Ben Stokes but, having brought up his half-century with a lovely four driven off Dwaine Pretorius through cover, Denly was gone three balls later sending an inside edge off Pretorius through to de Kock.

Stokes was a welcome sight at the crease for England, who know only too well his ability to produce heroics when needed and who would have been worried by his absence from the field for a large part of the third session on day one as he was feeling unwell, but his stay at the crease was curtailed as Nortje came to the fore. Nortje bowled Jonny Bairstow through the gate with a clever ball that kept a little lower than expected and then had Stokes caught behind for 35.

An excellent catch at short leg by Zubayr Hamza sent Sam Curran back to the pavilion and handed Rabada his second wicket and when de Kock brilliantly caught Buttler off the bowling of Philander, he joined Mark Boucher (four times), AB de Villiers and Denis Lindsay as the only South African wicketkeepers to take six catches in an innings. Only four keepers have taken more - with seven catches - and none of them for South Africa.

England conceded a first-innings lead of 103 a short time later after Rabada had Broad caught by Dean Elgar and Philander bowled Jofra Archer.

Early breakthroughs for James Anderson, Broad and Archer lifted England's spirits, however.

Anderson, who also took a wicket with the first ball of the match, struck in the first over of South Africa's second innings to dismiss Aiden Markram lbw for 2. Broad then had Hamza, the hosts' second-highest scorer in their first innings with 39, caught down the leg side by a diving Buttler, who then took another tidy catch leaping to his right after Archer found Elgar's inside edge.

England had their fourth when Archer had Faf du Plessis caught at long leg via a down-on-one-knee scoop that flew straight to Curran.

Van der Dussen and Nortje saw their side through to the close without further loss and, with their first-innings top-scorer de Kock still to make an appearance, South Africa held the upper hand.

[Admin]

England 181 and 121 for 1 (Burns 77*) need a further 255 to beat South Africa 284 and 272 (van der Dussen 51, Archer 5-102)

True to their hard-earned reputation for perversity, England's cricketers gave themselves a fighting chance of victory in the first Test at Centurion, mere hours after seemingly tossing away their only opportunity in one of the most wasteful morning sessions of recent memory.

With Rory Burns once again to the fore, unbeaten on 77- the eighth time out of 11 that he had been the man to produce a half-century at the top of the batting order - England strode to the close on 121 for 1, after an evening session of improbable serenity, punctured only by the lapse in concentration that ended Dom Sibley's innings of 29 from 90 balls, and an opening stand of 92 that spanned 28 overs.

With two days to come, and 255 still required with nine wickets standing, one of these two sides is sure to head to Cape Town in the new year with a 1-0 lead in the series. And England, still a little bit giddy from their exploits at Headingley in the summer, will know that even a run-chase of 376 - 125 more than has ever previously been achieved at this venue - cannot be considered completely out of their reach.

After all, most of the men still to come in the middle order - Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow in particular - have spent the past four years making such chases seem commonplace in white-ball cricket at least, and perhaps relish the clarity that comes with a distinct endgame to their endeavours.

But this is also the side that has fallen in a batting heap on more occasions that they'd care to count in recent years - Mirpur 2016, Auckland 2017, Trent Bridge 2018, Bridgetown 2019, and the first innings of that self-same contest at Headingley in August, to name but a few. This could go down to the wire, or be all over by lunch. Neither upshot would be quite as eyebrow-raising as a common-or-garden 95-run defeat by mid-afternoon.

And in that context, it perhaps should not be surprising that England's gains in an uplifting evening were offset by one of the worst mornings of Test cricket that even this yin-and-yang rabble has ever yet produced.

Having come into the third day with the stated aim of limiting South Africa's lead to a manageable 300 (and how cushty would their overnight position seem had they done that?), England threw caution to the wind, tactics to the bin, and hope to the outer rim as Rassie van der Dussen, on debut, and Anrich Nortje, a nightwatchman with a previous Test best of 5 not out, thwarted their advances in a fifth-wicket stand of 91 that ate up the first 90 minutes of the day.

England, in some mitigation, were clearly distracted by dressing-room issues - or more accurately, issues in the field hospital-turned-"quarantine" where both Buttler and, for a time, the captain Root were housed after becoming the latest members of the camp to succumb to the unshakeable virus that has been plaguing the squad for a fortnight.

Buttler didn't take the field at all - he was replaced behind the stumps by the man he replaced behind the stumps, Jonny Bairstow (who had replaced the man who had replaced the man behind the stumps, Ollie Pope, when he too fell ill on the eve of the game). And though Root did reappear in a game attempt to reattach his side's wobbly wheels, he looked like death warmed up as South Africa took full toll.

Most fundamentally, England bowled too short - blatently neglecting the line-and-length wiles that had earned Vernon Philander the first-innings figures of 4 for 16. And while this could partly be attributed to a lack of leadership, that didn't exactly excuse the influence - or lack thereof - of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, whose combined 285-Test, 1000-plus wickets of experience surely includes the odd scenario that might have aided their game-plans in such circumstances.

Indeed it was telling that, at the eventual fall of Nortje for a feisty 40 - caught at short leg as Jofra Archer banged another one into his hip - Broad and Ben Stokes were seen having a pretty frank discussion in the team huddle. It ended with a conciliatory fist-bump, but also with Stokes taking the ball for his first over of the day, and immediately serving up a bouncer, length-ball one-two that scalped Dwaine Pretorius almost before he had begun.

England leaked 125 runs in the morning while claiming three wickets - among them van der Dussen for a debut half-century of immense resolve - and a further 75 thereafter, as Quinton de Kock and Philander took up the cudgels for their side - not least against the hapless Archer. His pace may have been restored to familiar extremes but his methods came in for mockery from de Kock in particular, who set himself for the short ball and launched him high and mightily over the ropes for consecutive sixes in a 37-ball 34 that only ended when Stokes, once more, found his edge from another length ball.

At least Archer finished the innings with his second five-wicket haul and first overseas - an important milestone for a man who managed just two wickets in as many matches in New Zealand last month - but it was a pyrrhic victory in the circumstances, as he became the fourth bowler in Test history to claim a five-wicket haul while conceding a run-a-ball or more. The final insult to England's performance came from the slap-happy Kagiso Rabada, who belted Sam Curran on to the grass in a 12-ball 16, before Philander, four runs shy of a richly deserved fifty, snagged another high bouncer from Curran through to the keeper.

And so the focus switched once again to England's batting … and for the fourth time in as many innings, the umpire's finger went up in the very first over. But whereas Anderson's wickets had stood in both innings, Rabada was denied by DRS for the second time running, as Burns (who escaped had escaped first-ball on Friday) successfully reviewed an lbw decision that was shown to be missing off.

And thereafter, a curious serenity came across England's batting, as some of the surface's second-day life ebbed away. Burns eased into his work with a series of punches through the covers and a brace of clips off the pads from Nortje - although he had a second stroke of luck on 20 when de Kock dived across van der Dussen at first slip, who spilled a low edge off the luckless Philander.

At the other end, Sibley settled in as the most junior of partners - content to watch his off stump like a hawk and let as much sail by as possible, which is an underrated tactic against bowlers of South Africa's quality. He dragged himself into double figures with his first boundary, a clip off Nortje, from his 41st delivery, and had just seemed to be finding his feet at Test level when he scuffed a long-hop from the spinner Keshav Maharaj straight back to the bowler.

Joe Denly, however, was still in situ at the close, providing yet more improbable solidity from the No. 3 position that he is slowly but surely making his own. No one else in the team wants it, of course, which epitomises the issues that England's Test cricket has had for the past four years. But somehow, in spite of everything, they are making a fist of this contest. Albeit a ham-fisted one.

[chris]

Anderson's days numbered? Take away the first over of each innings, he bowled a lot of overs remaining wicketless. Parkinson looks ready to be ignored for the rest of the tour. Buttler either the next captain or about to be dropped dependent upon your view.

[Admin]

Buttler will stay and keep wicket calling Bess into the squad means he will probably overtake Parky, Anderson barely played since July but if you go into a Test series playing no competitive matches you lose first game and not mentioning putting them in.

South Africa 284 (de Kock 95, Curran 4-58, Broad 4-58) and 272 (van der Dussen 51, Archer 5-102) beat England 181 (Denly 50, Philander 4-16) and 268 (Burns 84, Rabada 4-103) by 107 runs

There were, as you might expect, a few twists and turns along the way, but in the end, the result was thoroughly comprehensive. South Africa won the first Test at Centurion - their first non-defeat in six attempts - by 107 runs, thanks to a sustained new-ball assault that delivered England's last six wickets in 11.5 overs at a cost of 46 runs.

The star of the show on this fourth and final day, however, was not the first-innings hero, Vernon Philander, nor the kingpin of their attack, Kagiso Rabada, crucial though he was in crashing through England's resistance with four wickets in his final seven overs.

Rather it was the snorting, bull-necked pace of the rookie quick Anrich Nortje, the man whose 40 runs as a nightwatchman on Saturday morning had been so crucial in setting up an imposing target of 376, and whose three second-innings wickets included two of the most prized scalps of the lot - England's overnight obstacle, Rory Burns, for 84, and then the captain, Joe Root, whose fluent 48 had been looking like his side's best hope.

The day's other big wicket, however, was perhaps the most crucial of the lot, not because of how he had been proceeding, but because of what his enduring presence stood for. After achieving the impossible with that innings at Headingley, Ben Stokes stands as living proof that no cause is entirely lost, and when he came to the crease at the fall of Joe Denly, just as he had done in that very knock, England's requirement was 218 further runs with seven wickets standing … just as it had been in August.

The similarities continued as he bedded into his stay, with caution to the fore as he ground his way to 4 runs from his first 42 balls (compared to 3 from 74 at Headingley) before the re-introduction of Keshav Maharaj singled a critical change of intent. A first-ball slog-sweep for four was followed by an inside-out smack down the ground, as England attempted to expel the spinner from South Africa's attack. But two overs later, Maharaj had the final say in the duel - inducing an inside-edge on to the woodwork as he found some grip from the rough outside Stokes' off stump.

The euphoria of South Africa's celebrations betrayed the magnitude of the moment. Stokes' departure for 14, with the second new ball only seven overs away, was the incision that England could not afford, given the fallibility of the men lurking down the order.

And few, alas, proved more fallible that the wretchedly out-of-form Jonny Bairstow. He had been recalled to the team when Ollie Pope succumbed to England's lurgy on the eve of the Test, despite having played no first-class cricket since being dropped for the tour of New Zealand. And that was no sort of preparation for a player of Rabada's intent. A flick off the pads from his first new-ball delivery proved a false dawn. One ball later, Rabada served up a juicy outswinger that was slapped with flat feet and an open face straight to gully.

At 222 for 5, with another 154 still needed, the writing was suddenly on the wall, even if Jos Buttler - who missed the third day through illness - showed admirable stoicism as he dug in alongside his skipper. But, while Rabada was a constant menace, his new-ball colleague Philander was slightly off the boil at the other end, finding less of his habitual swing and proving a relative sinecure as that precious new-ball shine began to be eroded from the Kookaburra.

And so Faf du Plessis, to his credit, chose to spell Philander after just three ineffectual overs, and back came Nortje with licence to let rip. Sure enough, his second ball bagged the big one. Root, whose only moment of discomfort in the course of a serene stay had come when Nortje had rapped him on the wrist with a lifter in the morning session, was once again taken aback by extra pace outside off, and flinched a second-ball edge through to Quinton de Kock to fall for a valiant but insubstantial 48.

The remainder of England's innings turned into a predictable bar-brawl of big hits and regular wickets, as the tail chose to roll the dice en masse, and try to smoke their way to within touching distance of their target rather than bed in for the inevitable. Buttler and Sam Curran took Nortje's next over for 15, including a wild pull from Buttler that sailed onto the grass banks, but prolonged resistance was futile.

Rabada found Curran's outside edge to give de Kock his eighth catch of the match, before Jofra Archer snicked Nortje to slip. Buttler then decided to go for broke, crashing Rabada over cow corner for his second six of the innings but holed out in the same direction one ball later, and Stuart Broad's timbers couldn't survive the rest of the over.

South Africa's celebrations were heartfelt and long overdue - they've endured as wretched a year as England's has been intermittently glorious (in one format at least), but this was a vindication for a new regime that was appointed in the throes of crisis at the beginning of the month, and has already dredged an admirable team spirit in the face of adversity.

That's not to say it was an easy denouement. There were nerves aplenty along the way, as England resumed on their overnight 121 for 1, with Burns entrenched on a steadfast 77 and their collective eyes as firmly on the prize as they can be when such a distant target of 376 is glinting on the horizon.

But just as England's morning session on the Saturday had been so crucial in their eventual demise, so South Africa's victory was built on the discipline that they showed in conceding just 50 runs in 25 overs before lunch, while chipping out two hugely significant wickets.

And Nortje, once again, was instrumental in the session's biggest moment. Burns, whose authority at the top of England's order has been enhanced significantly in this contest, was 16 runs shy of his third Test century and playing with control and composure, when he gambled on aggression as the change bowlers entered the fray. Rabada and Philander had been seen off with caution, but Nortje's second delivery was a rapid bouncer that got big on a pre-meditated pull. The ball spiralled to Rabada at mid-on as Burns turned in disgust for the pavilion, and the rock of England's innings had been dislodged.

Four overs later, and Denly too was gone - pinned on the pad as Dwaine Pretorius nipped one off the seam, and sent on his way despite a review for 31. And on a fine day for South Africa as a whole, Pretorius provided a footnote of extra optimism, as it was confirmed that he had chosen country over county in turning down a mooted Kolpak move to Nottinghamshire. England's hosts still have myriad problems to surmount as they seek to shore up their sport's foundations, but results such as this are the sort of tonic that they so desperately need.