Centurion, Dec 26 (V7N) – South Africa will rely on an all-seam attack as they face Pakistan in the first Test at Centurion starting Thursday, aiming to secure their spot in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s next year.

The Proteas need just one win in the two-match series to guarantee their place in the final. Captain Temba Bavuma has set his sights on a 2-0 series victory.

“We’re coming into the series to win 2-0. We need to focus on doing the small things right and let the results follow,” Bavuma said.

Fast Bowling Arsenal

South Africa has opted for a formidable pace attack featuring:

Kagiso Rabada

Marco Jansen

Dane Paterson

Corbin Bosch, who will make his Test debut in his hometown of Centurion.

The Centurion pitch, historically favoring pacers, has seen fast bowlers claim 227 wickets in the last six years compared to only 16 for spinners.

Top-Order Concerns

South Africa's batting lineup, including Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs, struggled against Pakistan’s spin during a recent ODI whitewash, raising questions about their readiness for the Test series.

Pakistan’s Challenges

Pakistan’s poor Test record in South Africa includes 12 losses out of 15 matches since their first tour in 1995. Their lowest Test score of 49 was recorded at the Wanderers in 2013.

Under coach Aaqib Javed, Pakistan recently secured wins against England on spin-friendly pitches but faces challenges adapting to South African conditions.

Key selections include:

Naseem Shah and Babar Azam returning to the Test squad.

Mohammad Abbas, recalled after three years, bringing experience with 90 wickets in 25 Tests.

The exclusion of Shaheen Shah Afridi, a surprising decision given his recent participation in the ODI series.

Tactics in Focus

While South Africa banks on pace, Pakistan is still deciding whether to follow suit or include left-arm spinner Noman Ali, the only specialist spinner in their squad.

World Test Championship Standings

South Africa: Contenders for the final.

Pakistan: Ranked 7th, out of contention for the WTC final.

The series is pivotal for South Africa’s championship hopes, while Pakistan looks to overcome historical struggles in South Africa and end their WTC cycle on a high note.

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