South Africa v England: third Test betting preview, free tip & where to watch

Free cricket tips, best bets and analysis for South Africa v England in the third Test in Port Elizabeth.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Cricket & Sky Sports Main Event, 8am

South Africa v England third Test best bets

D Bess to take two or more wickets
1pt 2-1 Coral, Ladbrokes
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J Denly to be named man of the match
1pt 25-1 Betfair, Paddy Power
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Q de Kock top South Africa runscorer in first innings
1pt 5-1 Betfair, Paddy Power
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South Africa v England third Test team news

South Africa
The Proteas have named an unchanged squad for the final two Tests.

England
James Anderson will miss the final two Tests of England's tour with a rib injury and Rory Burns is out but Joe Root is back in training after illness. Jack Leach is set to return home due to illness.

South Africa v England third Test preview

England's stunning 189-run win over South Africa in the second Test served as a reminder of the excitement five-day cricket can provide and bowlers could be hard-pressed for wickets in Port Elizabeth.

James Anderson will miss the third Test after posting figures of 7-63 in Cape Town and likely replacement Jofra Archer could struggle to replicate those figures on a slow pitch renowned for aiding spinners.

England are generally short of star quality in that department but Dom Bess, one of a number of young talents on show in the four-match series, was steady at Newlands.

He took two wickets and registered economy rates of 2.3 and 1.73 and, with the help of the St George's pitch, should surpass his first-innings wickets line of 1.5.

Another spin option at England's disposal is Joe Denly, who is becoming a key component of the set-up with both bat and ball.

His scalps of Dean Elgar (34) and Quinton de Kock (50) were crucial in the second Test, helping him to figures of 2-42 in the second innings, while his solid batting at three is easing the pressure on England's openers.

After Rory Burns and Dom Sibley fell cheaply in the first Test, Denly kept England's hopes alive with a composed half-century and has scored 31, 38 and 31 in his three innings since.

The headline-grabbing nature of Ben Stokes means Denly's work may have been overlooked but he looks overpriced to scoop the man-of-the-match award in Port Elizabeth.

The slow pitch could hinder the pacemen but a draw should not be on the cards given the flimsy nature of both batting contingents.

England's second-innings declaration on 391-8 was the only time either side did not get bowled out in the series and South Africa's middle order in particular looks weak.

They have been over-reliant on De Kock and their wicket-keeper looks the best bet to top score for the hosts once again.

De Kock has scored 95, 34, 20 and 50 in the series following an average of 47.53 in 2019.

In South Africa's infamous eight-wicket mauling by Sri Lanka at this venue last year the wicket-keeper managed 86 runs from 87 balls from number six, a position he can expect to be striking from again this time.

South Africa v England third Test venue

South Africa have had a mixed record at St George's with 13 wins in their 30 Tests there while England have lost only one of their nine visits. The seven-wicket success of Michael Vaughan's side in 2004 is among the most memorable.