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Spotlight: Jonny Bairstow, Preview, Key Players, Fantasy Tips and Dream11

image-l6vsh2maSouth Africa lost to England Lions in the warm-up game


To the delight of cricket fans across the globe, Test cricket is well and truly back as hosts England are set to take on South Africa in the first game of the three-match series at Lord's tomorrow at 3.30 PM IST. 

England have been absolutely magnificent in the purest format since the rejuvenation of their think-tank. The Three Lions' aggressive brand of cricket has worked wonders, handing them clinical victories over two robust opponents, New Zealand and India, at the start of the summer. The Englishmen believe in attack as the best form of defence and are expected to keep playing with this mindset in the series. 

South Africa, too, are in scintillating form in the red-ball format, being undefeated in their last four Test series. Despite suffering a demoralising defeat in the warm-up game against the England Lions, the visitors would enter the field, taking the positives from their recent success at the international level. 


Spotlight: Jonny Bairstow

Jonny Bairstow's resurgence in Test cricket has been inspirational, to say the least. With 614 runs at a Bradmanesque average of 102.33 and an insane strike rate of 100.16 this summer, Bairstow has established himself as the poster boy of England's brand new aggressive approach.  

image-l6vtegolBairstow will be the biggest threat for SA

The swashbuckling right-hander hammered twin centuries against India in Edgbaston, powering England to a historic victory. Looking at his form and attacking style, we expect Bairstow to emerge as the biggest threat for the Proteas in this game. 


Key Players

  • Joe Root has slammed 927 Test runs at a magnificent average of 61.80 this year. 
  • Kyle Verreynne top-scored in the New Zealand series, with 188 runs at an outstanding average of 62.67. 
  • James Anderson has scalped 18 wickets this year at a fabulous average of 22.17. 
  • Marco Jansen has picked 23 wickets in four Tests this year at a superb strike rate of 38.17. 

Match Details

Venue: Lord's, London
Live Streaming: Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV app

Pitch Report: The surface at the iconic Lord's has traditionally been orthodox; helping seamers early on, gradually getting better for batting and assisting spinners on the last two days. However, considering England's latest trend, we might witness a relatively flatter track with no eventual deterioration this time. If this happens, the team winning the toss would like to field first.   


CREX 11 Fantasy Tips

Wicket-keepers: Jonny Bairstow, Kyle Verreynne
Batters: Dean Elgar, Ollie Pope, Keegan Petersen
All-rounders: Joe Root, Aiden Markram
Bowlers: James Anderson, Marco Jansen, Anrich Nortje, Stuart Broad

Captain: Jonny Bairstow
Vice Captain: Joe Root


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