South Africa vs England, 2019-20: 3rd Test – Statistical Preview

The 4-match Test series between South Africa and England is levelled at 1-1 as both the teams won a Test apiece thus far. The home team will be looking to bounce back after a big loss in Cape Town, where they lost a New Year Test for the first time since 1993. On the other hand, England will be hoping to put on a good show as they play in Port Elizabeth after 16 years. The English side will be missing the services of James Anderson for the remaining two Tests, who in Cape Town became the leading wicket-taker in SA-ENG Tests.

All the key stats and numbers ahead of the crucial 3rd Test match in Port Elizabeth:

1 – The last year’s 8-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka was the lone Test defeat for South Africa in Port Elizabeth in the past ten years. South Africa won five out of the seven Test matches they played at this venue since the start of 2010 while another game ended in a draw.

23 – Kagiso Rabada bagged 23 wickets in Test cricket in Port Elizabeth; the 3rd most Test wickets for any player at this venue after Allan Donald (40) and Shaun Pollock (37). Rabada’s 23 wickets here came across four Tests at an average of 17.6 and picked up a wicket at an average of 30.7 balls.

195 – Number of wickets for Kagiso Rabada in his 42-match Test career thus far. He needs five more wickets to complete 200 Test wickets and the 3rd quickest among South Africans after Dale Steyn (39) and Allan Donald (42). In fact, Rabada will also become only the 3rd player in Test history after Kapil Dev (247) and Waqar Younis (222).

195 – Quinton de Kock has affected 195 keeping dismissals in Test cricket thus far across 45 matches – 184 catches and 11 stumpings. De Kock needs five more dismissals to become the 2nd South African wicketkeeper with 200 Test dismissals.

509 – Faf du Plessis’ 509 runs in Test cricket in Port Elizabeth are the 2nd most Test runs for him at a venue behind 632 runs in Newlands. Faf scored those 509 runs at an impressive average 72.71 across 10 innings with help of two tons and three half-centuries.

2004 – Last time England featured in a Test match at the St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth was way back in 2004 which they won by 7 wickets. Overall, England played nine Test matches at this venue and won if five of them. Their lone defeat here came way back in 1957 when South Africa defeated them by 58 runs.

3906 – Runs Ben Stokes has aggregated in his Test career thus far. The all-rounder needs 94 more runs to complete 4000 runs in Test cricket. He will then become only the 7th player in this format with the double of 4000+ runs and 100+ wickets. Among England players, only Sir Ian Botham has achieved this all-round double till date.