Hours before the start of the first test between England and South Africa, England announced their playing XI.
This England team has been performing well since the management named a new captain and coach for the team.
With Ben Stokes leading the team and veteran New Zealand batsman Brendon McCullum serving as head coach for tests, England has won 4 of its previous 4 matches, including victories against the two 2021 World Test Championship finalists.
They started out by defeating the current World test champion New Zealand by a score of 3-0 before defeating India in the lone test to even the series at 2-2.
Now, they are all set to face another big team, South Africa, who are currently number three in the rankings and have a strong recent record, including a series victory over India.
For the first test against South Africa, England reinstated wicket-keeper batter Ben Foakes after he missed the fifth rescheduled Test against India.
Zak Crawley and Alex Lees have been kept at the top of the order while Ollie Pope maintains his place in the playing XI.
Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow have been in superb form, and they are expecting another great performance against the Proteas.
Matthew Potts, a young Durham pacer, will be paired with veteran pacers James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Jack Leach is still the starting spinner in the meantime.
Yorkshire batsman Harry Brook and pacers Craig Overton and Ollie Robinson were among the players who were left from the team.
So far, England’s new Test plan of using four seamers and a spinner has been pretty successful.
Alex Lees and Zak Crawley will open the innings for England, with Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow making up the middle order. Veterans Anderson and Broad will take the new ball. While Matty Potts will the ideal option to be used alongside veterans.
England Playing XI for 1st Test against South Africa:
Alex Lees, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Ben Foakes, Matthew Potts, Jack Leach, Stuart Broad and James Anderson
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