Pakistan aim to end 2024 on a high as South Africa eye WTC final spot in Centurion Test

Home team select all-pace attack for Boxing Day Test

South Africa are on the verge of qualifying for the World Test Championship final. AFP

Pakistan will be looking to maintain their momentum when they take on South Africa in the first Test of a two-match series that begins in Centurion on Thursday.

The Boxing Day Test is significant for both teams. The Proteas will qualify for next year's World Test Championship final if they win one of the two matches. And while Pakistan are not in contention for the WTC final, the Test series will show whether Pakistan cricket has truly turned a corner.

After spending most of the year slipping down the rankings table in all formats, Pakistan have hit the winning formula in red and white ball cricket. They famously rallied to defeat England in the home Test series recently after changing tactics and playing on artificially dried up and slow surfaces. And after another round of change in leadership, Pakistan went on to register superb ODI series wins in Australia and South Africa.

And if they hold their own against the Proteas, Pakistan cricket could well look forward to a superb 2025.

South Africa, meanwhile, have gone all out and selected an all-pace attack for the first Test at SuperSport Park.

It means the surface will be extremely challenging for batsmen, with a distinct possibility of getting bowled out in a session, which brings both teams into play.

Pakistan's Saim Ayub was the player of the series in the preceding ODI series. AP

South Africa will field debutant Corbin Bosch alongside Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada and Dane Paterson.

"It's one thing making your debut, but then to make it where you've made a name for yourself in the provincial setup is another thing," captain Temba Bavuma said of Bosch ahead of the opening Test.

"I think Corbin adds an extra element to our bowling attack, he comes with the extra pace. Obviously, a big, strong guy as well, so one of the guys who can hit the deck hard.

"And he obviously offers a role with the bat as well. We saw in the ODI that he can hold his own with the bat. We're excited for him to see what he can do with the red ball and strengthen our bowling line-up," added the South Africa captain. "We back our seamers at Centurion."

Bosch, 30, is the son of the late Tertius Bosch who played in South Africa's first post-isolation Test, against the West Indies in Barbados in 1992.

Bavuma said his players were aware of the significance of being on the verge of reaching the WTC final.

"We know what's at stake. There's confidence and belief because of the good cricket we have played over the last while. Nothing has happened by accident."

South Africa's progress in the Test championship has come despite Cricket South Africa's emphasis on T20 franchise cricket at the expense of Tests.

South Africa's schedule of 12 Tests - all two-match series - is the joint lowest with Bangladesh in the championship cycle. England have played 22 matches, while Australia and India will have played 19 each when they complete their fixtures.

The system of average points has propelled South Africa to the top of the table despite not playing against Australia or England. Their only series against one of top Test nations was a tied one against India.

Pakistan have only won two out of 15 Tests in South Africa but will go into the series on the back of a convincing 3-0 ODI series win. Seven of the Pakistan squad and eight of the South African Test team players were involved in the one-day games.

The visitors, meanwhile, will be wondering whether to go with an all-pace attack or select a recognised spinner. If the pitch turns out to be tailor-made for seamers, Pakistan could be tempted to go for pure pacers and rely on the part-time but highly effective spin of players like Saim Ayub and Salman Agha. Both have proved highly effective with their finger spin and should be good enough to make up a few overs.