South Africa and Pakistan will lock horns in the first Test of their two-match series at the SuperSport Park Cricket Stadium, Centurion, starting Thursday, December 26. Both teams bring significant momentum to this red-ball encounter, promising an intense and competitive contest.
South Africa’s dominance in Test cricket
South Africa will enter the series in formidable form, having recently been dismantled Sri Lanka in a two-match test series, achieving a 2-0 whitewash. This all-around performance not only reinforced their dominance but also solidified their position at the top of the standings. ICC World Test Championship (WTC) positions. Playing at home, South Africa will look to take advantage of their familiarity with the pace and bounce of the Centurion surface to maintain their winning streak.
Pakistan’s recent success in all formats
Pakistan, meanwhile, arrive with confidence high after a 3-0 clean sweep in the ODI series preceding this Test battle. In Test cricket, they are coming off a hard-fought 2-1 series win against England at home, demonstrating his ability to perform under pressure. Although conditions in South Africa will be very different, Pakistan’s mix of experienced players and emerging talent will be key in adapting to the challenges posed by South Africa’s formidable bowling attack.
SA vs PAK, 1st test:
- Date and time: December 26: 08:00 am GMT / 10:00 am local / 1:30 pm IST
- Event: SuperSport Park, Centurion
SuperSport Park Launch Report:
The pitch at SuperSport Park in Centurion is known to be very batting-friendly. It offers good pace and bounce, allowing hitters to play aggressively once they settle. While players may find some movement in the seams early on, conditions generally become easier to score on as the match progresses. Spinners may struggle to achieve significant spin, but variations can still be effective. Historically, teams that bat first have had a slight advantage, making the toss crucial.
SA vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Picks:
- Goalkeepers: Mohammad Rizwan, Kyle Verreynne
- hitters: Temba Bavuma, Babar Azam, Saim Ayub
- all terrain: Salman Agha, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen
- bowlers: Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Naseem Shah
SA vs PAK Dream11 Captain and Vice-Captain Prediction:
- Option 1: Marco Jansen (c), Mohammad Rizwan (vc)
- Option 2: Babar Azam (c), Kagiso Rabada (vc)
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SA vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Backups:
Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique
SA vs PAK Dream11 Team for today’s match (December 26, 08:00 am GMT):
Squads:
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (do)David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne.
Pakistan: Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel (vc), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah (wk), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha
