With their 9-year Test record of staying unbeaten on foreign soil being thrashed by the Indians this month, South Africa would look to have a fresh start. The Proteas would be taking on the English side in a 4-match Test series, with the 1st one starting on December 26, 2015, at Dublin.
England also does not have a great past in Test series. They lost their last series 2-0 against Asian giants Pakistan in a 3-match series in U.A.E. Keeping aside the captain, Root and Barstow, no other batsmen performed and the bowlers failed to strike at all.
With both the teams looking to recover from past losses, they would look to go all guns blazing to win this important series. Both the teams have great fast bowlers and their batsmen love to play on fast tracks. Considering these factors, their matches should be competitive and interesting to watch. Speaking of competitive, we go back in time and take a look at the past, where both these teams collided and bring you the Top 5 Test matches between these Test playing nations –
5. SA won by 5 wickets, Birmingham, 30th August 2008
Both South Africa and England had their team lists at the peak of their generation. The best of their players played during this season. This match was a run-fest where both teams scored over 200 runs in each innings. Choosing to bat, England put up a par score of 231 runs to which South Africa replied with a strong 314 runs. All-rounders Flintoff (36 n.o, 4/89) and Kallis (3/31, 64) impacted the game heavily. South African bowlers again dominated England batting as they were reduced to 104/4 but Collingwood saved the day for the home team and his steady 135 runs along with Pieterson’s 94 helped the Britishers put up a challenging 363 as their total and 282 runs as the target. Although England bowlers were successful in chucking out wickets on one end and the score being 93/4, Smith (154 n.o.) soldiered on. Finding Boucher (45 n.o.) as the appropriate partner in difficult time, both scored meticulously to hand South Africa the important win.
4. SA won by 51 runs, London, 16th August 2012
On paper, South Africa possessed a better team sheet than their rival and by the end of the match, they ensured they kept that same result on the field too. Batting first, South Africa scored 309/10 with contributions from most of the players. Scoreboard showing 54/4 at one stage, Bairstow’s 95 avoided South Africa from obtaining a huge lead. Gradually, England crossed the trail target set, but couldn’t go travel much further as they were bowled out for 315 runs with just 6 runs as lead. Batsmen kept on striking the ball with Amla (121) leading the pack as South Africa were dismissed for a steep total of 351 runs with England’s target being a tall one of 357 runs. Protea bowlers struck early by removing both openers for 6 runs in total. England progressed further but kept losing wickets and at one stage were 146/6. Contributions from the lower order restricted England from getting bowled out very early in the game. Eventually, they were bowled out for 294 runs which saw South Africa winning his one by 51 runs. Steven Finn had a good outing as he took 4 wickets in both innings.
3. SA won by 3 wickets, Manchester, 7th July 1955
D Compton was the lone fighter in England’s first innings battle against South Africa. Choosing to bat, Compton’s 158 was the major contribution in England’s total of 284 runs. The South African team thrashed the English bowlers as three of their 11 players scored a ton, after which South Africa declared at 521 for 8. England fought back courageously in their second innings. With a century from May, they managed to put up 381 runs on the board which resulted in the opposition to score 145 runs or more to win the match. With a paltry target in sight, South Africa surprisingly started to fall apart. Wickets at regular intervals kept falling, but the damage was not so severe that it could prevent South Africa from winning the match. McLean’s 50 helped the proteas reach the set target but lost 7 wickets in the process.
2. SA won by 17 runs, Johannesburg, 15th February 1957.
The 4th Test in the 5-match series saw the home team winning the toss and opting to bat. Contributions from every player saw Proteas reaching a total of 340 runs in the first innings. England failed to cross the trailing line as South African bowlers bowled them out for 251 runs. Bowlers had the better of the batsmen in this Test as England managed to stop the proteas crossing the 150-mark. With a 90 run lead already in hand, South Africa managed to crawl to just 142 runs in their final innings which meant England had a target of 232 runs to achieve. Wickets at regular intervals and a lower-order collapse resulted in England faltering at 214 runs, just 17 runs shy of a great away win. No batsmen could score a century in the match, but bowlers ensured it sure was a very close one.
1. SA won by 1 wicket, Johannesburg, 2nd January 1906
Even though those were the early days of the gentleman’s game, that didn’t stop the players from giving their spectators, a close match to spectate. Early wickets and tail-ender collapse saw England getting bowled out for just 184 runs. Confident of getting a lead, South Africa couldn’t even reach the half of their trail target as they were gunned down for mere 91 runs. Taking the 93 lead as an advantage, England kept on piling runs till they were bowled out for 190 runs. With 284 runs needed to win, South Africa started with quick wickets falling at initial stages. Courtesy of White (81) and Nourse (93 n.o.), South Africa won this historic Test match with just one wicket in hand. The British bowlers were successful in getting wickets but couldn’t get hold of the all-important one of Nourse who took his team to a glorious victory.