The South Africa vs Pakistan 1st Test begins on December 26 at SuperSport Park, Centurion. South Africa aims to recover from a recent ODI loss while Pakistan seeks to maintain momentum following their Test series win against England. The playing elevens for both teams have been announced, with South Africa’s squad led by Temba Bavuma. The live toss takes place at 1:00 PM IST, and the match starts at 1:30 PM IST, available on Sports 18 and via JioCinema streaming in India.
The first Test match of the two-match series between South Africa and Pakistan is set to commence on Thursday, December 26, at SuperSport Park in Centurion. Following a disappointing performance in the One-Day International format, where South Africa faced a clean sweep against Pakistan, they will look to bounce back in the Test arena. The South African team, having recently secured a 2-0 victory against Sri Lanka, currently stands atop the World Test Championship table, outpacing Australia and India.
Conversely, Pakistan enters the series with increased confidence after excelling in the limited-overs format and having achieved their first Test series victory in three years against England at home. With strong performances from both outfits, spectators can anticipate an engaging competition as they take to the field. South Africa has already announced its playing eleven for the opening Test, which is led by captain Temba Bavuma.
The confirmed playing eleven for South Africa in the 1st Test includes: Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson, and Corbin Bosch. As for Pakistan, the probable lineup features Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Salman Ali Agha, Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Aamir Jamal, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, and Khurram Shahzad.
In terms of historical context, South Africa holds a substantial advantage in Test match encounters against Pakistan, having won 15 out of the 28 matches contested between the two nations, with Pakistan winning only six, and seven matches ending in a tie.
The live toss for the 1st Test is scheduled for 1:00 PM Indian Standard Time (IST), and the match is set to begin at 1:30 PM IST. Indian viewers can tune in to the Sports 18 network for television coverage, while live streaming will be accessible on JioCinema and its associated website.
The upcoming Test series between South Africa and Pakistan unfolds against a backdrop of contrasting performances in limited-overs cricket. While South Africa is reeling from a disappointing series loss, they seek to regain their form in the Test format, where they have recently achieved success. Pakistan, buoyed by their improvements in the ODI format, aims to leverage their confidence into the Test series, having notably achieved a rare home series victory against England. Both teams thus enter this encounter with significant motivation and potential, making for an anticipated competition. The historical rivalry further enriches this matchup, as South Africa boasts a superior record in Test cricket between the two nations.
In summary, the first Test match between South Africa and Pakistan promises to be a compelling contest, as both teams are poised to demonstrate their cricketing prowess. South Africa, buoyed by their recent Test successes, faces a motivated Pakistan that is eager to continue its enhanced performance in the Test arena. The historical edge that the Proteas hold in their head-to-head record adds an intriguing layer to this encounter. Cricket enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the commencement of this match, scheduled for December 26.
Original Source: www.business-standard.com
