On Monday (16th December), Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced the 17-member Test squad for the first two Tests of the forthcoming four-match home Test series against England. A total of six uncapped Test batsmen have been included in this squad.
New-looking South Africa are getting ready for their second Test series and first home Test series in the 2019-21 ICC World Test Championship. The no.3-ranked Test side South Africa will play the four-match home Test series against the no.4-ranked Test side England between 26th December 2019 and 28th January 2020. Here is the points distribution for this Test series.
| Matches in series | Points for a win | Points for a tie | Points for a draw | Points for a defeat |
| 4 | 30 | 15 | 10 | 0 |
Rassie van der Dussen and Dwaine Pretorius are among the uncapped Test players
For the first two Tests of this series, the South African selectors have named 17 cricketers, including six uncapped Test players. These six uncapped Proteas Test players are Pieter Malan, Rudi Second, Dane Paterson, Rassie van der Dussen, Beuran Hendricks and Dwaine Pretorius.
Faf du Plessis will continue to lead the Test side. In last October, his team suffered a whitewash in the three-match Test series against the hosts India.
The right-arm fast bowler Lungi Ngidi and all-rounder Wiaan Mulder have been ruled out from the first two Tests of this upcoming series due to their respective injuries. Ngidi is suffering from a hamstring injury while Mulder is battling with a back injury.
Centurion (26-30 December 2019) and Cape Town (3rd-7th December) will host the first two Tests of the upcoming Test series against England.
The selectors have also announced the 11-member South Africa A squad for a three-day warm-up game against England, which will be played ahead of the Test series (20th-22nd December).
South African Test squad for the first two home Tests against England: Faf du Plessis (capt), Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Dean Elgar, Beuran Hendricks, Keshav Maharaj, Pieter Malan, Aiden Markram, Zubayr Hamza, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Rudi Second, Rassie van der Dussen
South Africa A squad for a three-day game against England: Temba Bavuma, Nandre Burger, Theunis de Bruyn, Reeza Hendricks, Pieter Malan, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dane Piedt, Lutho Sipamla, Glenton Stuurman, Pite van Biljon, Kyle Verreynne
Full multi-day games fixtures during England tour of South Africa 2019/20
(Tour matches)
17th-18th December 2019: Cricket South Africa Invitation XI vs England – Willowmoore Park (Benoni)
20th-22nd December 2019: South Africa A vs England – Willowmoore Park (Benoni)
(Four-match Test series)
26th-30th December 2019: 1st Test – SuperSport Park (Centurion)
3rd-7th January 2020: 2nd Test – Newlands Cricket Ground (Cape Town)
16th-20th January 2020: 3rd Test – St. George’s Park (Port Elizabeth)
24th-28th January 2020: 4th Test – Wanderers Stadium (Johannesburg)