The three Test series between England and South Africa will commence from July 19, 2012, at Kennington Oval, London. England is the current ICC Test champion while holding the rating of 122 with 3893 points and South Africa is at no.3 with a rating of 113 after achieving 2364 points.

The Proteas are anticipating a victory in the forthcoming series and would like to clinch it whereas the English team is in great form and will do their best to maintain their current ranking.

South Africa is a formidable unit under the captaincy of Graeme Smith, Andrew Strauss is leading the strong England side and both teams will fight for the superiority.

England and South Africa have played 138 Tests, the hosts have an edge by winning 56 matches and the visitors managed victory in 29 whereas 53 ended in a draw.

The first ever two Test series between the two countries was played in 1889-90 in South Africa and England clinched that by a margin of 2-0. The last Test series was held in South Africa which ended at 1-1.

We will highlight the achievement of both teams in the previous two Tests series held in 2008-09 in England and 2009-10 in South Africa.

The four Test series was titled as Basil D’ Olivera Trophy held in 2008-09.

The first Test was played at Lord’s, London, on July 10,11,12,13 and 14, 2008.

Scores

England 1^st innings – 593 for 8 wickets declared, Ian Bell 199, Kevin Pietersen 152, Stuart Broad 76, Morne Morkel 4-121, Paul Harris 3-129.

South Africa 1^st innings – 247, Ashwell Prince 101, AB de Villiers 42, Monty Panesar 4-74, Ryan Sidebottom 2-41.

South Africa 2^nd innings – 393-3 declared, Neil McKenzie 138, Graeme Smith 107, Hashim Amla 104*, James Anderson 2-78.

Player of the match –  Ian Bell (England).

Result – match drawn.

The 2^nd Test was held at Headingley, Leeds, on July 18, 19, 20 and 21, 2008.

Scores

England 1^st innings – 203, Pietersen 45, Bell 31, Morne Morkel 4-52, Dale Steyn 4-76.

South Africa 1^st innings – 522, AB de Villiers 174, Prince 149, Panesar 3-65, Anderson 3-136.

England 2^nd innings –  327, Broad 67*, Alastair Cook 60, Morkel 3-61, Steyn 3-97.

South Africa 2^nd innings –  9-0.

Player of the match –  Ashwell Prince (South Africa).

Result – South Africa won by 10 wickets.

The 3^rd Test took place at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on July 30, 31 and August 1 and 2, 2008.

Scores

England 1^st innings –  231, Cook 76, Bell 50, Andrew Flintoff 36*, Jacques Kallis 3-31, Andre Nel 3-47.

South Africa 1^st innings – 314, McKenzie 72, Kallis 64, Mark Boucher 40, Flintoff 4-89, Anderson 3-72.

England 2^nd innings – 363, Paul Collingwood 135, Pietersen 94, Morne Morkel 4-97, Makhaya Ntini 2-58.

South Africa 2^nd innings –  283, Graeme Smith 154, Boucher 45*, Flintoff  2-72.

Player of the match –  Graeme Smith (South Africa).

Result – South Africa won by 5 wickets.

The 4^th and final Test of the series was played at Kennington Oval, London, on August 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, 2008.

Scores

South Africa 1^st innings – 194, Smith 46, de Villiers 39, James Anderson 3-42, Monty Panesar 2-4.

England 1^st innings –  316, Kevin Pietersen 100, Collingwood 61, Steve Harmison 49*, Ntini 5-94, Jacques Kallis 3-51.

South Africa 2^nd innings – 318, AB de Villiers 97, Amla 76, Stuart Broad 3-44, Panesar 2-37.

England 2^nd innings – 198-4, Cook 67, Andrew Strauss 58, Makhaya Ntini 2-55, Paul Harris 2-56.

Player of the match –  Kevin Pietersen (England).

Player of the series –  Kevin Pietersen (England) and Graeme Smith (South Africa).

Result – England won by six wickets.

Series result – South Africa won the four match series 2-1.

The four Test series was titled as Basil D’ Olivera Trophy held in 2009-10.

The 1^st Test of the series was played at Supersport Park, Centurion, on December 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20, 2009,

Scores

South Africa 1^st innings – 418, Kallis 120, Jean-Paul-Duminy 56, Mark Boucher 49, Graeme Swann 5-110, Graham Onions 3-86.

England 1^st innings – 356, Swann 85, Paul Collingwood 50, Strauss 46, Harris 5-123, Ntini 2-78.

South Africa 2^nd innings –  301, Hashim Amla 100, de Villiers 64, Boucher 63*, James Andersen 4-73, Stuart Broad 2-58.

England 2^nd innings – 228, Pietersen 81, Jonathan Trott 69, Friedel de Wet 4-55, Morne Morkel 2-46.

Player of the match –  Graeme Swann (England).

Result –  match drawn.

The 2^nd match was held at Kingsmead, Durban, on December 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30, 2009.

Scores

South Africa 1^st innings – 343, Kallis 75, Smith 75, de Villiers 50, Swann 4-110, Broad 2-44.

England 1^st innings – 574, Ian Bell 140, Alastair Cook 118, Matt Prior 60, Morkel 3-78, Duminy 3-89.

South Africa 2^nd innings – 133, Harris 36, Boucher 29, Swann 5-54, Broad 4-43.

Player of the match – Graeme Swann (England)

Result – England won the match by an innings and 98 runs.

The third match took place at Newlands, Cape Town, on January 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, 2010.

Scores

South Africa 1^st innings – 291, Jacques Kallis 108, Mark Boucher 51, Andersen 5-63, Onions 2-69.

England 1^st innings – 273, Prior 76, Cook 65, Ian Bell 48, Morne Morkel 5-75, Dale Steyn 4-74.

South Africa 2^nd innings – 447-7, Graeme Smith 183, Amla 95, Kallis 46, Anderson 3-98, Swann 3-127.

England 2^nd innings – 296-9, Bell 78, Alastair Cook 55, Strauss 45, Harris 3-85, Duminy 2-30.

Player of the match – Graeme Smith (South Africa)

Result –  match drawn.

The fourth and final Test of the series was played at New Wanderers Stadium.on January 14, 15, 16 and 17, 2010, at

Scores

England 1^st innings – 180, Collingwood 47, Bell 35, Dale Steyn 5-51, Morne Morkel 3-39.

South Africa 1^st innings – 423-7, Graeme Smith 105, Mark Boucher 95, Hashim Amla 75, Stuart Broad 3-83, Graeme Swann 2-93.

England 2^nd innings  –  169 (Paul Collingwood 71, Andrew Strauss 22, Morkel 4-59, Jean-Paul-Duminy 2-10.

Player of the match – Morne Morkel (South Africa) and Dale Steyn (South Africa)

Player of the series – Mark Boucher (South Africa) and Graeme Swann (England)

Result – South Africa won the match by an innings and 74 runs.

Series result – the four Test series drawn at 1-1.