Supersport Park, Centurion is the venue for the Boxing Day test match between South Africa and India and we take a look at the squads, recent form and the all important betting.
This is a 2 match series with the second test taking starting on 3rd January at Newlands, Cape Town
Let's start with the team news.
Dean Elgar has announced this will be his last series before he retires from international cricket
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Dean Elgar, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Keegan Petersen, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs and Kyle Verreynne
Note: Virat Kohli returned to India for family reasons although at the time of writing it seemed he will return in time for the game. Ruturaj Gaikwad is out of the
series through injury and has been replaced by Abhimanyu Easwaran
India: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Abhimanyu Easwaran , KL Rahul (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Prasidh Krishna, KS Bharat (wk)
Recent Form
South Africa
South Africa haven't played in this format since a 2-0 home win against West Indies in Feb / March where they won the first match by 87 runs (at this venue) and the second by 284 runs
The Proteas were in Australia in December and January. They failed to handle the conditions in losing the first test by 6 wickets and were thrashed by an innings and 182 runs in the second. A drawn third test saw Australia take the series 2-0.
India:
India won a 2 match series in West Indies in July 1-0 and just prior to that they lost the one off World Test Championship to Australia at the Oval by 209 runs.
Australia were in India for a 4 match series in February and March this year and India won it 2-1, winning the fist 2 tests (an innings and 132 runs and then 6 wickets), losing the third (by 9 wickets) and the fourth match was drawn.
Recent Head to Head
The most recent series came in South Africa over Xmas and New Year 2021/22 and the Proteas won it 2-1.
The Proteas lost the first match at Supersport Park by 113 runs with KL Rahul's ton in the first innings earning the Man of the Match award
The second test at The Wanderers was won by South Africa by 7 wickets and they went on to clinch the series in Cape Town with another 7 wicket victory
Supersport Park, Centurion
Over the course of the last decade South Africa have won 8 and lost 2 of 10 test matches at Centurion
The most recent test at this venue came against West Indies in February this year and South Africa (342 and 116) beat West Indies (212 and 159) by 87 runs. Aiden Markram (115 and 47) was Man of the Match and the vast majority of the wickets fell to pace bowlers.
You can check the weather forecast here
The Betting - 1st Test Match
At the time of writing South Africa are 2/1 to win the match with the draw at 2/1 and India are 5/4
Elgar is 3/1 favourite to top score for South Africa in the first innings and Kohli is 11/4e to do likewise for India
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
The Verdict
I'm looking to the player to score a 1st innings 50 market for a betting interest and Aiden Markram gets my vote for the Proteas whilst Shreyas Iyer is the pick for India..
Bets: 1st Innings Player to score a 50 Aiden Markram? Yes at 2/1 with Sportingbet
1st Innings Player to score a 50 Shreyas Iyer? Yes at 2/1 with Sportingbet
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
Subscribe to our free weekly betting mailer which will include our best and value bets below.
