ENG vs SA: England announce XI for Lord's Test

England and South Africa lock horns for a three-match Test series, and England have announced their playing XI for the first Test match, set to take place at Lord’s on August 17, Wednesday. The remaining two Tests will be played from August 25 at Old Trafford, Manchester, and from September 8 at The Oval, London. 

England last played a Test against India in the first week of July at Edgbaston, and Ben Stokes’ side have made just one change from that game as wicketkeeper-batter Ben Foakes, who was out of the team against India due to Covid-19, returns to the playing XI to replace Sam Billings. England have three specialist fast bowlers in James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Matthew, and one frontline spinner in Jack Leach.

This will be only the third assignment for England under the leadership of captain Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, after the series against New Zealand and the rescheduled fifth Test match against India. They whitewashed the Kiwis 3-0 in the and drew the series 2-2 against India, and are now on a winning streak of four matches in the format.

England have five wins, four draws, and seven losses in 16 games in the current World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23, and stand seventh on the table. They are ranked fourth in the ICC Test Rankings, only one spot below South Africa. 

Meanwhile, South Africa are on top of the table in the WTC with five wins and two losses in seven games. England lost the T20I series 2-1 and drew the series 1-1 against the Proteas last month. Dean Elgar’s side, ahead of the first Test, played a warmup game against England Lions, which they lost by an innings and 56 runs. 

England’s playing XI for the first Test

Zak Crawley, Alex Lees, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes (wk), Stuart Broad, Jack Leach, Matthew Potts, James Anderson