Predicting South Africa’s Test Team To Tour England

South Africa were exceptionally impressive in their Test series against Bangladesh as they secured a 2-0 series win at home. Who has stuck their hands up to make the tour of England later this year?

Victories by 220 runs and 332 runs allowed the Proteas to flex their impressive Test muscles in a showing that was down to some very impressive and solid batting, backed up by a player of the series showing from Keshav Maharaj, who spun the Bangladeshi batsmen into submission.

In the coming months, South Africa will play T20 and ODI series against India, England and Ireland, before then taking on England in a three-match Test series across August and September.

With this series in mind, FreeTips.com have compiled our predicted South African Test side to take on England.

This team is based on the Bangladesh series and the best players we feel South Africa have at their disposal who, if fit and willing to play, should be in the side.

Dean Elgar (C)

Sarel Erwee

Aiden Markram

Rassie van der Dussen

Temba Bavuma

Kyle Verreynne (wk)

Wiaan Mulder

Keshav Maharaj

Kagiso Rabada

Simon Harmer

Duanne Olivier

This side is based on the combined efforts of the Test series win over Bangladesh and the missing players from that Test side.

At the top, both Dean Elgar and Sarel Erwee are making a name for themselves as a solid duo for the South African Test side.

Elgar was particularly impressive against Bangladesh, with three scores of 60 or more in four innings allowing the opener to enjoy a huge amount of time out in the middle. The position of Erwee in the side is yet to be completely sealed, but he has definitely shown flashes of his enormous ability.

Neither Aiden Markram nor Rassie van der Dussen played across the Test series against Bangladesh, but the pair is two of South Africa’s best batsmen.

Markram is a very fluent player that can be so pleasing on the eye, while Van der Dussen gives South Africa a solidity when he is at his best, and he is the sort of player that can help to turn a tough situation into a match winning one if he can get himself in.

In particular for Markram, his average may not see him rubbing shoulders with the best in the game, but he is a batsman that can win a match for South Africa if given the chance, and he is therefore deserving of his place if fully fit.

Temba Bavuma excelled at number four for South Africa against Bangladesh as he played out very impressive, unwavering innings that saw him score runs and halt the Bangladeshi attack.

This sort of mindset which sees Bavuma prizing his wicket above all else makes him incredibly important in a modern game where smashing sixes is often seen as the most important thing.

If Bavuma can get himself in and frustrate the English bowlers, then the home side could be in real trouble, as Bavuma rarely gives his wicket away.

Kyle Verreynne is our wicketkeeper of choice after donning the gloves against Bangladesh, while Wiaan Mulder comes in just behind him as an option as an all-rounder.

Honestly, neither has done quite enough yet to see us believing that they are definitely the best option in these positions for the Proteas, but they should be given a tour of England to show just how good they can be.

Keshav Maharaj is undroppable at this point. The player of the series against Bangladesh took 16 of the available 40 wickets and was an unbelievable option with the spinning ball.

The pitches in England will deteriorate as the game goes by which will see Maharaj come into the match more, and with English batsmen struggling against spin, he could be in for a very good series.

Kagiso Rabada, Simon Harmer and Duanne Olivier fill  our bowling options, with the trio adding some real bite through their varying styles of bowling.

It will be particularly interesting to see how Rabada fares in the Test team again, especially after missing the series against Bangladesh to instead play in the Indian Premier League.