South Africa vs England, 2019-20: 4th Test – Statistical Preview

England team is one step away from winning their second straight Test series in South Africa as they lead the 4-match Test series by 2-1 margin. On the other hand, the Proteas have lost five of the six Test matches they played starting from the Indian tour. They will be hoping to mark the farewell of Vernon Philander with a win and level the series at the same. This game will be Philander’s last match in his International career as well. However, the home side is going to miss the services of Kagiso Rabada who has been banned by ICC for this Test.

All the key stats and numbers ahead of the last game of the 4-match Test series in Johannesburg:

5-1 – South Africa has lost five out of the six Test matches they played in the 2019/20 season. If they lose the Johannesburg Test, it will be the first time that South Africa will lose as many as six matches in a Test season.

7-7 – South Africa has a win-loss record of 7-7 in Test cricket at the Johannesburg’s New Wanderers since the start of 2005. In this span, South Africa lost more Test matches only at the Durban’s Kingsmead (8). During this period, England lost one Test and won two in Johannesburg which includes a 7-wicket win when they played in 2016.

7 – Quinton de Kock has at least one fifty-plus score in all the seven home Test matches since the start of 2019. De Kock amassed 693 runs at an average 53.3 with a century and seven fifties across 13 home Test innings during this period.

15.69 – Vernon Philander has a bowling average of 15.69 in Test cricket at the New Wanderers. He played 7 Tests at this venue picking up 39 wickets at a strike rate of 37.4. Philander claimed two 5-wicket hauls including his career-best of 6/21 against Australia in 2018.

19 – Vernon Philander has a bowling average of 19 in Test matches at home. This is the 2nd best bowling average in Test cricket for any player in a country behind Jim Laker’s 18.08 in England. Philander’s strike rate of 43.6 is also the 5th best in Test cricket for a player in any country. (Min: 100 wickets)

43-3 – Kagiso Rabada will miss the Johannesburg Test due to an ICC suspension. This will be only the 4th Test match that Rabada will be missing since his debut. The other three matches – vs India, Delhi 2015 [Lost by 337 runs], vs England, Durban 2015 [Lost by 241 runs] and vs England, Nottingham 2017 [Won by 340 runs].

195 – Quinton de Kock has affected 195 keeping dismissals in his 46-match Test career – 184 catches and 11 stumpings. De Kock needs five more dismissals to become the 2nd South African wicketkeeper with 200 Test dismissals.

1913/14 – The last instance of England winning as many as three matches in a Test series on South African soil was way back during 1913/14 tour. The English team won the 5-match series played in that tour by 4-0 margin.