SAvsENG, 3rd Test Preview: Confident England take on the Proteas: A confident English team will take on a surprisingly desperate out of thoughts South African team in 3rd of four match test series in Johannesburg starting on 14th of January. This could be a make or break test for couple of South African players.
SOUTH AFRICA:
The hosts can take heart from the comeback they made in previous match at Cape Town where the English almost collapsed in their 2nd innings .That was a different track which assisted the batsmen throughout whereas Johannesburg track traditionally suits faster bowlers. The home team would be happy their top order has hit form at the right time with Amla and Bavuma scoring a double hundred and a hundred respectively. Also Elger getting some runs in the last game would boost their moral. But the think tank of proteas will be hoping for Van Zyl to perform. Some turn of events saw Amla resigning from his captaincy and Ab de Villiers has taken over. With his aggressive approach we are sure to witness some great performance from the home side. Morkel and Rabada will have to lead the pace attack, in the absence of Steyn. Morris and Peidt are expected to support the duo. We can expect a same team with Stiaan van zyl under pressure to perform for his place in the side while Morris can be retained just for his all-round abilities.
POSSIBLE XI:
Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Morne Morkel, Dean Elgar, Stiaan van Zyl,Faf du Plessis, Chris Morris, Quinton de Kock, Temba Bavuma, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabad
ENGLAND:
The England team however is high on confidence barring the last day of the previous Test. The form of Ben stokes who scored a fantastic double hundred and Bairstow performing consistently in the middle order will make the visitors happy. The other players like Root, Compton have also chipped in with crucial knocks at important times. The bowling is also looking better. With the likes of Broad, Anderson and Finn, getting support from Stokes and Moeen ali, the bowling unit looks dangerous. The only worry is the form of their openers Cook and Hales who have never looked at their best. But the English skipper can never be written off .It is a matter of innings before the dashing left hander fires. An unchanged England team can be expected. They would like to continue in same rich vein of form.
POSSIBLE PLAYING XI:
James Anderson, Alastair Cook, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, James Taylor, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Nick Compton, Moeen Ali, Alex Hales, Joe Root
Will the English continue to dominate the series with another victory or the proteas overcome the lean patch and turn out victorious is what one would like to witness in this match.