South Africa and Pakistan They will face off in the first Test of the two-match series at the SuperSport Park Cricket Stadium, Centurion starting on Thursday, December 26. Both teams are promising a tight and competitive contest, bringing significant momentum to this red ball encounter.
South Africa’s dominance in Test cricket
South Africa will enter the series in formidable form after being dismantled recently Sri Lanka in the two-match Test series, whitewashed 2–0. This all-round performance not only strengthened their dominance but also cemented their position at the top ICC World Test Championship (WTC) tournament table. Playing at home, South Africa will aim to use the familiarity of Centurion’s surface speed and bounce to maintain their winning streak.
Pakistan’s recent success across formats
Pakistan, on the other hand, are coming into this Test clash on a high with confidence after a 3-0 clean sweep in the ODI series preceding this Test clash. In Test cricket, they claim a hard-fought 2-1 series win England demonstrates his ability to perform under pressure on home soil. While the conditions in South Africa will be very different, Pakistan’s mix of experienced players and new 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 GMT / 10:00 local / 13:30 IST
- Location: SuperSport Park, Centurion
SuperSport Park Pitch Report:
The pitch at SuperSport Park in Centurion is known for being very batting friendly. It offers good pace and bounce which allows batsmen to play aggressively once they settle down. While the bowlers may find some seaming action early on, as the match progresses the conditions generally become easier to score. Spinners may struggle for significant spin, but changes can still be effective. Historically, teams batting first have a slight advantage, which makes the toss important.
SA vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Options:
- Goalkeepers: Mohammad Rizwan, Kyle Verreyne
- Pastries: Temba Bavuma, Babar Azam, Saim Ayub
- Comprehensive: Salman Agha, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen
- Bowler: Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Naseem Shah
SA vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Captain and Vice-Captain:
- Option 1: Marco Jansen (c), Mohammad Rizwan (vc)
- Option 2: Babar Azam (c), Kagiso Rabada (vc)
Also READ: SA vs PAK: Centurion Weather Forecast for Boxing Day Test | South Africa v Pakistan 2024
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 GMT):
Teams:
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c)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 Verrain.
Pakistan: Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel (vc), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Hasebullah (wk), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
