The first of three test matches between South Africa and India gets under way at Centurion on Boxing Day and we take a look at the squads, recent form and the all important betting.
Let's begin with the squads.
The Proteas have called up Sisanda Magala, Ryan Rickelton, who would both be debutants if selected and, Duanne Olivier returns to the squad. Anrich Nortje is a late withdrawal and will miss the series
South Africa: Dean Elgar (captain), Temba Bavuma (vice-captain), Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Kagiso Rabada, Sarel Erwee, Beuran Hendricks, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Keegan Petersen, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Glenton Stuurman, Prenelan Subrayen, Sisanda Magala, Ryan Rickelton, Duanne Olivier
Rohit Sharma has been ruled out for India along with Jadeja and Axar. Virat Kohli is the skipper and KL Rahul the vice captain
India -Virat Kohli (c), KL Rahul (vc), Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Priyank Panchal, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), R Ashwin, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj
Recent Form
South Africa
The Proteas haven't been in test match action since the middle of the year when they comfortably won both tests against the West Indies in the Caribbean.
South Africa were in Pakistan in January / February this year and they lost both matches in the series. Over the turn of the year SA completed wide margin wins in both test matches of a home series against Sri Lanka.
India
India beat New Zealand (1-0) in a 2 match home series within the last month. Prior to that they lost the one off World Test Final at Southampton in June to the same opponent by 8 wickets.
India hosted England in February / March this year, they lost the first test of a 4 match series but won the next 3 for a 3-1 series win.
In December 2020 India were in Australia for another 4 match series, again they lost the first contest but hit back to win 2 and draw 1 of the next 3 for a 2-1 series win.
Recent Head to Head
The most recent meeting came in October 2019 in India and the Proteas were soundly beaten in all 3 matches.
India's most recent test series in South Africa came in 2018. The Proteas won the first 2 matches and India claimed a consolation victory in the third and final
contest.
Supersport Park, Centurion
Over the course of the last decade the Proteas have won 8 and lost 1 of 9 test matches at this venue.
Included in that sequence is a 135 run victory over India in 2018.
The most recent test match at Centurion saw the Proteas beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 45 months 12 months ago.
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The Betting - 1st Test Match
At the time of writing South Africa are 37/20 to win the match with the draw at 33/10 and India are favourites at 11/10
Aiden Markram is 33/10 to top score for the Proteas in the first innings and Virat Kohli is 37/20 to do likewise for India.
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
The Verdict
This should be a competitive series and although I make India the more proven batting unit they have made a habit of starting recent test series' slowly.
I will go with van der Dussen as top 1st innings bat for the hosts and Pujara for the visitors.
Bets: Top SA Run Scorer 1st Innings van der Dussen at 4/1
Top India Run Scorer 1st Innings Pujara at 4/1
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
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