LONDON (AP) The prospect of both teams being led by new captains adds extra intrigue – and unpredictability – to the first test of England’s four-match series against South Africa, starting Thursday, when England hopes to settle quickly under Joe Root and nurture early signs of dominance over the Proteas this summer.
Success in the tests for England would add to ODI and Twenty20 series victories over the touring South Africans.
While those limited overs series gave England reason to be optimistic, this is the one that really matters, an opportunity to register successive test series wins over South Africa for the first time since the 1964-65 season after England won in South Africa last year.