South Africa will arrive in 2017 looking to enact revenge for their 2-1 series defeat at home to England last winter, as the tourists aim to continue their fine recent record on trips to the Northern Hemisphere.
England secured their first series victory in South Africa since 2004/5 as Stuart Broad’s 6-17 in Johannesburg in the third Test set up the historic triumph against AB de Villiers’ charges.
The Proteas, bereft of the experience of Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher, have been through a transitional phase over the past few years and have slipped to 5th in the ICC Test Rankings.
However, with de Villiers at the helm, they have one of the game's most exciting talents leading them into a new era.
The 32-year-old’s experimentation with the gloves over recent times has perhaps coincided with losses of form, so he will be relieved to see the re-emergence of Quinton de Kock on the Test scene.
The left-hander filled in for Dean Elgar at the top of the order in the Test series triumph over New Zealand, scoring 82 and 50 at Centurion in South Africa’s 204-run victory.
He will likely return to seven in the order by the time the England series comes around, with Elgar partnered by Stephen Cook at the top of the order.
Having struggled for runs since the loss of Smith and Kallis, a middle order now comprising of Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, de Villiers and Temba Bavuma, with JP Duminy waiting in the wings, seems to have that problem more or less covered.
Amla showcased his supreme class with 201 in Cape Town during England’s recent visit whilst Bavuma, who also added 102* in that innings, his first Test century, is an exciting young talent.
A hallmark of South Africa’s success in recent visits to England has been there ability to field a four strong pace attack in helpful bowling conditions.
Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel continue to spearhead the Proteas’ bowling line up and, with two spots to fill from a combination of Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander and Kyle Abbott, the South African bowling ranks are well stocked.
Rabada is one of the most exciting members of that pack, having emerged on to the international scene with the ability to bowl 90mph at will, and the 21-year-old will likely be a handful during his first series in England.
With the attack rounded off by the off spin of Dane Piedt, South Africa look to have a balanced attack as they aim to maintain their unbeaten run on English soil, a country where they haven’t lost a series since 1998.
Trent Bridge will host an Investec Test Match between England and South Africa, and a Royal London One-Day International visit from the West Indies, in 2017.
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