Last Updated on 2 years by Charbel Coorey
ENG vs SA 1st Test Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs SA 1st Test Dream11 Prediction Today | Lord’s Pitch Report
Looking at England’s home season before it began, you would have been forgiven for thinking that they would be coming into this Test series off the back of defeats to World Test Championship finalists New Zealand and India, before dominating all their white-ball matches. Instead, England, under the guidance of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, have been irresistible in the Tests and failed to win a single ODI or T20I series against India and South Africa respectively.
It is quite the change for a team that has typically been so strong in white-ball cricket in recent years. However, the key to the change in red-ball fortunes, i.e. BazBall, is underpinned by an attacking mindset focused on putting the pressure on the opposition and seeking victory at all times. Three 250+ chases against New Zealand? No problem. 378 against India? Too easy.
So, what does this series have in store? South Africa have shown this year that they cannot be counted out, coming from behind to beat India 2-1 in January and also recovering from a first up defeat to draw a series in New Zealand. The seam attack, spearheaded by the great Kagiso Rabada (if fit), will be itching at the bit to have a go at an England lineup that has taken on all before them in Tests this summer and won. Skipper Dean Elgar said that his team is not there to simply make up the numbers, but triumph in England for the first time since 2007.
Should the weather allow, it promises to be a riveting five days of Test cricket between two sides who are flawed but exciting. The Proteas have shown excellent bounceback ability so far in 2022, but if they let England get off to a flyer, it may be too difficult to come back from.
ENG vs SA 1st Test Possible Playing XI
England have confirmed their XI for the Test. Ben Foakes, who missed the India Test due to COVID-19, will replace Sam Billings.
England: 1. Zak Crawley, 2. Alex Lees, 3. Ollie Pope, 4. Joe Root, 5. Jonny Bairstow, 6. Ben Stokes (c), 7. Ben Foakes (wk), 8. Stuart Broad, 9. Jack Leach, 10. Matthew Potts, 11. James Anderson
Also read: What has sparked Jonny Bairstow’s turnaround in Tests?
South Africa will confirm their XI at the toss. Kagiso Rabada, who missed the T20Is against Ireland recently due to an ankle injury, will be assessed before play. Duanne Olivier is out of the series due to a torn hip flexor injury.
South Africa: 1. Dean Elgar (c), 2. Sarel Erwee, 3. Keegan Petersen, 4. Aiden Markram, 5. Rassie van der Dussen, 6. Kyle Verreynne (wk), 7. Keshav Maharaj, 8. Marco Jansen, 9. Kagiso Rabada, 10. Lungi Ngidi, 11. Anrich Nortje
Head-to-head matchups & key players to watch/stats
England:
- After a brilliant 2021, Joe Root is also having a superb 2022. The world’s number one Test batsman has scored 927 runs in nine Tests this year at an average of 61.80, with five centuries.
- Root has an excellent record at Lord’s (1,610 runs, avg. 55.51), with his last innings that glorious unbeaten century to seal a successful chase against New Zealand. Also, Root averages 52.90 in 12 Tests against the Proteas, of which the average bumps up to 57.62 in four Tests at home.
- Against South Africa’s spearhead Rabada in Tests, Root has scored 187 runs in just 285 balls at an average of 62.30.
- Jonny Bairstow is also having a year to remember. He is the leading runscorer in Tests this year, with 994 runs in eight games at an average of 76.46 and strike rate of 76.22. This includes four tons in his last three Tests.
- Like Root, Bairstow has a good strike rate against Rabada in Tests. The Yorkshireman has scored 156 runs in 207 deliveries against the pacer, but he has been dismissed five times.
- Expect Ben Stokes to go hard right away. The England captain has scored 627 runs in eight Tests at Lord’s at an average of 44.78. Against South Africa, Stokes has slammed 1,028 runs at 46.72, including that memorable 258 back in 2016.
- Stokes strikes at 77.7 against Rabada (209 runs in 269 balls) with four dismissals. It’s another great battle in the offing.
- The ageless James Anderson has the most wickets at Lord’s (116, avg. 24.36) and most wickets in ENG-SA Tests (93 wickets, avg. 31.52). With conditions expected to be cloudy right throughout the Test, expect Anderson to play a key role.
- Anderson has dismissed Dean Elgar four times in 248 balls in Tests, conceding just 120 runs. He has also bowled 10 deliveries to Aiden Markram, and has picked up his wicket once.
- Stuart Broad sits on 99 Test wickets at Lord’s (avg. 28.06), the second-most of any bowler. Surprisingly, Broad has found the going tough against South Africa at home, taking 30 wickets in ten Tests at a high average of 39.36.
- Expect Broad to have a red-hot go against South Africa’s left-handed opening pair. Since the start of 2019, Broad is averaging 23.7 against left-handers.
South Africa:
- Dean Elgar has what it takes to thwart Broad’s threat. The captain has a superb record against Broad in Tests, with 182 runs in 367 deliveries at an average of 91.00.
- Against England, Elgar has scored 819 runs at an average of 37.22 in 12 Tests. In England, he averages 36.37 with two fifties and a century in four matches.
- Keegan Petersen impressed against India earlier this year. In four Tests this year vs Bangladesh and India, Petersen struck 377 runs at an average of 47.12 in some challenging batting conditions.
- Rassie van der Dussen has scored three fifties in eight Test innings against England. He has been dismissed just once in 123 deliveries against Broad (43 runs) and has not been dismissed by Anderson in 87 balls (18 runs).
- Kagiso Rabada has the equal-most wickets for South Africa this year (23) at an average of 21.13. This includes a brilliant eight-wicket haul in New Zealand to help the Proteas to a series-levelling win.
- Against England, Rabada has taken 52 wickets in just nine Tests at an average of 25.80 and strike rate of 40.5. This includes a remarkable 13-wicket haul in one Test.
- Marco Jansen is also having a brilliant year in Tests: 4 matches, 23 wickets, avg. 19.39. Expect the tall left-arm seamer to find some movement and additional bounce.
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Other Stats and Facts
- Head-to-head in Tests: Matches 153, England 64, South Africa 34, 55 draws.
- England lead South Africa 30-14 (with 24 draws) in Tests in England.
- England have won their last four Tests. South Africa have won five of their past six.
- The last Test series between the teams was in 2017. England won that four-match series 3-1 at home, including a 211-run win at Lord’s. Joe Root scored 190 and Kagiso Rabada took six wickets in that game.
- Since 1994, South Africa have won four and lost one of their five Tests at Lords.
- Dean Elgar is 136 away from 5,000 runs in Tests.
- Matthew Potts took 4/13 and 3/55 in the Lord’s Test against New Zealand in June.
Lord’s Pitch Report and Weather
The weather does not look too promising, particularly on the opening two days. Lord’s is typically a venue where the overhead conditions play a key role, so expect the captain who wins the toss to choose to bowl first with a greenish tinge on the pitch.
The average first innings score in the last five Tests on this ground is 243.4. New Zealand were bowled out for 132 in the Test earlier this year, followed by just 141 by England in their first innings of that match.
ENG vs SA 1st Test Dream11 Prediction 17-21 August 2022
Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article as well as your own instincts to create your teams.
Option 1:
Option 2:
Fan2Play Prediction
If you’re looking for an alternative to Dream11, Fan2Play offers lower credit scores for 11-player fantasy teams. Check out and download the app here.
Base Team:
- Wicket-Keepers: Jonny Bairstow
- Batsmen: Joe Root, Dean Elgar
- All-Rounders: Ben Stokes, Aiden Markram
- Bowlers: James Anderson, Kagiso Rabada
ENG vs SA 1st Test Match Prediction: Who will win?
Given the weather conditions, a draw seems like the most likely result. If there is a result, England’s confident style of play and familiarity with the conditions puts them in a good place to win.
I am running a poll at the moment to get views from fans on what the future of cricket looks like for content for the blog, Twitter and more. Will only take a minute of your time. See below.