Ahead of the four-match Test series between South Africa and England, The Cricketer selects a side made up from players on both sides...
There are few more accomplished opening batsmen on the Test circuit than the courageous 32-year-old. 2019 has been Elgar’s least profitable year since 2013; he has managed just 329 runs at an average of 27.41.
However, his presence remains a calming one atop an inexperienced batting lineup. His battle with Stuart Broad – so good against left-handers with the new ball – could go a long way to shaping the series.
England have found an opener. They took their time but, in Burns, there lies a batsman not totally dissimilar to Elgar. With his own idiosyncratic style, he added a terrific century against New Zealand to his streakier maiden ton against Australia at Edgbaston.
All of a sudden, he has found himself discussed in some quarters as a possible long-term successor as captain to Joe Root; he has gone from novice to senior man at the top of England’s order.
The Proteas skipper admitted that events of recent times have taken their toll on his metaphorical shoulders. A humbling defeat against India has been followed by off-field, boardroom infighting. “The last six months have taken a lot more energy from me as a leader than I would normally require,” he told reporters. That, though, has been shelved for now.
He is a man re-energised under the management team of Graeme Smith, Mark Boucher and Jacques Kallis. Individually, it has not been a bad year for du Plessis – there was a Test hundred against Pakistan and half centuries against Sri Lanka and India.
Vernon Philander will retire from international cricket at the end of the Test series
England’s talisman was back to his best in New Zealand with the bat, looking as good as ever at Hamilton as he churned his way to a chanceless double hundred. He has stated his pleasure at watching others follow his lead – notably Ollie Pope, who has shown a willingness to grind out his runs. Root himself has a fine record in South Africa; he has passed fifty on four occasions in as many Tests, reaching a hundred in Johannesburg in 2016.
England’s man of the year has fond memories of South Africa. His 258 at Cape Town remains one of the innings of the decade; the 198-ball knock was a festival of hitting that only ended when he was fortuitously run out by AB de Villiers.
England will need him at his best this time around, especially if the surfaces are similar to those encountered by England during their warmup games. His durability and willingness to run up repeatedly may well be called upon with the ball.
The South African wicketkeeper found himself opening the batting by the time his side’s disastrous series in India came to an end. In a difficult time for the Proteas, he has been a shining light; there have been two centuries to go with four fifties in this calendar year alone.
An important wicket to take early, England cannot afford to have de Kock taking them apart in the heat.
Perennially and criminally underrated by many – perhaps as the slowest in a cartel of fast bowlers, the seamer has been one of the game’s standout cricketers of the decade.
The announcement of his impending retirement at the end of this upcoming series has brought about a range of fully deserved tributes for one of the most skillful bowlers of the recent past. He takes his wickets at an average of just 18.65 on home soil; don’t be surprised to see him go out on a high here.
Ben Stokes made 258 at Cape Town when England last played Test cricket in South Africa
Arguably the world’s finest fast bowler, his record in Test cricket is outrageous, even in an era of fine seamers. It is scary to think that 40 games into his Test career, he remains just 24 years of age. 2019 has been a leaner period for Rabada; his 26 wickets dwarf the 52 he took last year and his 57 in 2017. Like Philander, however, he thrives on home soil. Overall, 127 of his 183 Test scalps to date have come in South Africa, doing so at just 19.12 runs per wicket.
One half of England’s greatest bowling partnership, Broad makes it into this composite XI ahead of Jofra Archer. While most struggled in New Zealand, Broad’s knowhow shone through. At his least threatening, he held up an end. When his legs were pumping and he was in one of his trance-like grooves, he was mesmeric.
Reportedly, Broad is furthest along of the three unwell bowlers – Archer and Jack Leach the others – and in decent enough shape to take his place on Boxing Day. England will want all three fit, but the importance of Broad cannot be understated.
He will look to target the left-handed Dean Elgar up front, while South Africans will recall his series-winning spell at Johannesburg in 2016. When he is on a roll, he remains an unstoppable force. It is no slight on Archer that he misses out here – it is a nightmare bowling attack to pick.
“Kesh is a phenomenal bowler. I’ve played Test cricket with him and here at Yorkshire and watched him a lot as well. I think he’s probably the best Test spinner South Africa have ever produced.” That, at least, was the assertion of Duanne Olivier, Keshav Maharaj’s former South Africa colleague.
“He’s so good. He hardly gives you a bad ball. Even if it doesn’t turn, he finds ways to get wickets. He knows his game so well.”
The left-arm spinner has been a terrific find for the Proteas; he took his 100th Test wicket in India and, while he has found the going more difficult in 2019 – he has taken 10 wickets at 65.50, he will pose a huge threat to England’s batsmen.
The most successful seamer in Test history, it is to state the obvious to suggest that England are stronger for his return from injury. Joe Root will know the need to tread carefully with his veteran opening bowler as England look to manage Anderson’s calf. He looked in fine fettle in the warmup fixtures, bowling tightly and proving the most threatening of England’s attack – albeit a depleted lineup due to illness.
When England won in South Africa in 2004/05, Anderson was part of that squad, with Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher – all now on South Africa’s coaching and management team – then in the opposition ranks.
Subscribe to The Cricketer this Christmas and receive a £20 John Lewis voucher or Alastair Cook’s autobiography. Claim your free gift here
Subscribe to The Cricketer for exclusive content every day: The inside track on everything England - including leading coverage of England in India, award-winning analysis, breaking news and interviews and the only place for in-depth county coverage all year round. Plus: An ad-free app experience at your fingertips. Subscribe to thecricketer.com today for just £1.
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.