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Proteas win toss, choose to bowl at Lord’s; Rabada fit, no Harmer
The first Test takes place at Lord's in London, the Home of Cricket.
England captain Ben Stokes and South Africa captain Dean Elgar pose with the series trophy ahead of day one of the first Test of three at Lord’s on Wednesday. Picture: Gareth Copley/Getty Images
The Proteas won the toss and opted to bowl first in the first Test against England at Lord’s on Wednesday.
The South Africans chose to select fit-again Kagiso Rabada, who missed the white-ball matches recently, as part of a four-prong pace attack, also including Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje and Marco Jansen.
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Keshav Maharaj was also selected as the only spinner, with Simon Harmer missing out.
Dean Elgar and Sarel Erwee have been backed to continue opening the batting and they’ll be followed by Keegan Petersen, Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen. Kyle Verreynne takes the gloves.
The England team was named on Tuesday and also includes four fast bowlers, including veterans Stuart Broad and James Anderson. Jack Leach is the only spinner in the side.
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Wednesday 8/17/2022 – 12:53 UTC+3 | 306 words
Fit-again South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada was set to be thrust straight into the action as Proteas captain Dean Elgar won the toss and elected to field in the first Test against England at Lord’s on Wednesday.
Spearhead quick Rabada had been doubtful for the opening match of the three-Test series with an ankle injury but was cleared to take his place in a powerful pace attack also featuring Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen and Anrich Nortje.
England had named their XI on Tuesday, with the return of wicketkeeper Ben Foakes the only change to the side that defeated India in the postponed fifth Test at Edgbaston last month after he missed the match following a case of coronavirus.
James Anderson, already England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker, becomes the first 40-year-old specialist seamer to play for England since Les Jackson in 1961.
England are bidding to make it five wins in a row under their new leadership duo of captain Ben Stokes and red-ball coach Brendon McCullum following a 3-0 whitewash of world champions New Zealand and the win against India.
South Africa are currently top of the World Test Championship table, having won seven out of nine matches since Elgar was appointed as their permanent captain last year.
But the Proteas have not defeated England in a Test series, either at home or away, since 2012.
Teams
England: Zak Crawley, Alex Lees, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (capt), Ben Foakes (wkt), Matthew Potts, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach, James Anderson
South Africa: Dean Elgar (capt), Sarel Erwee, Keegan Petersen, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne (wkt), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi
Umpires: Nitin Menon (IND), Richard Illingworth (ENG)
TV umpire: Chris Gaffaney (NZL)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)
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