Key points
- England named a 15-player squad on November 9 for a three-Test tour of South Africa beginning December 17, with Joe Root as captain.
- Shoaib Bashir and Ollie Pope were left out of the senior Test squad but named in the England Lions red-ball squad for the South Africa tour.
- Nottinghamshire left-arm spinner Liam Patterson-White earned his maiden Test call-up after taking 42 wickets at an average of 25.11 in the 2026 County Championship Division One season.
- Jacob Bethell returned to the Test squad after recovering from a knee injury that kept him out of the home series against Pakistan.
- The first Test is scheduled for December 17-21 at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, followed by Tests at Centurion from December 26-30 and Cape Town from January 3-7.
- The tour will be Stephen Fleming's first Test series as England head coach.
Joe Root will captain England in their three-Test tour of South Africa after selectors named a 15-player squad on November 9. Shoaib Bashir and Ollie Pope have both missed out on the senior Test group, while Nottinghamshire left-arm spinner Liam Patterson-White has earned his maiden call-up and Jacob Bethell returns after recovering from a knee injury.
The series begins in Johannesburg on December 17 and will be the first Test assignment for new England head coach Stephen Fleming. The tour forms part of the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship, with England seeking results against the reigning world champions in South African conditions.
Root leads a 15-player squad for South Africa
Root is named captain of a squad that includes Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Bethell, Harry Brook, Sam Cook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Patterson-White, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith and Josh Tongue. The group combines established Test players with players receiving opportunities after strong domestic performances.
The announcement follows England's 3-0 home Test series victory over Pakistan at the end of the English summer. England's selectors have made two changes to that senior group: Patterson-White has earned a first call-up, while Bethell returns after injury. The selection was finalised by the new coaching and selection group led by Fleming, managing director Rob Key and national selector Marcus North.
Root's appointment places an experienced batter at the head of the side for a challenging away series. He is joined in the batting group by Brook, Duckett, Cox, Gay, Lawrence and Bethell, while the bowling options include a mixture of pace and spin.
Bashir and Pope move into the Lions group
Bashir and Pope are absent from the 15-player Test squad, but their omission does not mean they have been left out of the South Africa tour altogether. Both have been named in the England Lions red-ball squad, which will travel to South Africa for a preparation programme and matches during the senior team's tour.
Bashir's place in the senior squad has gone to Patterson-White, whose left-arm spin offers a different option. Pope, meanwhile, is among the Lions players who will have an opportunity to play in South African conditions. The Lions squad is scheduled to arrive from November 26 and will play both white-ball and first-class fixtures during the tour window.
The distinction between the senior and Lions selections is important. England have retained both players within the wider touring structure, while selecting a different combination for the three Tests. The Lions programme also provides cover and match preparation for players who could be required during the series.
Patterson-White earns maiden Test call-up
Patterson-White's selection follows an outstanding 2026 County Championship campaign for Nottinghamshire. The left-arm finger spinner took 42 wickets in Division One at an average of 25.11, the most wickets by a spinner in that competition. His performances earned him an England development contract before the Test squad announcement.
National selector Marcus North said the selectors had chosen a balanced squad for the challenge of facing South Africa. He highlighted Patterson-White's county form and Bethell's return from a knee injury as the two changes to the group that defeated Pakistan. The selection gives England a specialist left-arm spin option for a tour where conditions and match situations may call for different bowling combinations.
Bethell's return adds another batting option after he missed the Pakistan series. The Warwickshire all-rounder had been sidelined by a knee injury during the summer, but has recovered in time to be considered for the South Africa Tests.
Three Tests across Johannesburg, Centurion and Cape Town
England's Test tour begins with a warm-up match against a Cricket South Africa XI in Durban from December 9 to 11. The first Test will then be played at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg from December 17 to 21.
- December 9-11: Warm-up match against a Cricket South Africa XI, Durban
- December 17-21: First Test, Johannesburg
- December 26-30: Second Test, Centurion
- January 3-7: Third Test, Cape Town
The second Test is scheduled for Centurion, with the final match at Newlands in Cape Town. The three venues will present different challenges across the series, and England's preparation camp and warm-up match are intended to help the squad adjust before the opening Test.
Fleming begins his Test tenure against the world champions
The South Africa series will be Fleming's first as England men's Test head coach. The ECB's announcement noted that South Africa are the reigning ICC Test world champions and had returned to the top of the Test rankings after a 2-1 series win over Australia. England therefore face a side arriving with strong recent results in the longest format.
England are also balancing the senior Test tour with the Lions programme. Several players will travel early for preparation in Pietermaritzburg, while others will join after England's limited-overs tour of Australia. The staggered travel arrangements are designed to give the squad time in local conditions before the first Test.
For Root, the series is another opportunity to lead England in a major away assignment. For Patterson-White, it is a first chance to establish himself at Test level. Bethell's return, alongside the Lions opportunities for Bashir and Pope, gives England several selection storylines as the team prepares for three Tests in South Africa.
Frequently asked questions
Who will captain England in the 2026-27 Test series against South Africa?
Joe Root will captain England in the three-Test series in South Africa. The England and Wales Cricket Board announced a 15-player squad on November 9, with Root named as captain for the tour beginning on December 17.
Why have Shoaib Bashir and Ollie Pope been left out of England's Test squad?
Bashir and Pope were not selected in England's 15-player senior Test squad for South Africa. Both have been named in the England Lions red-ball squad for the same tour, so they remain part of the wider touring group and preparation programme.
Who is Liam Patterson-White and why has he been selected?
Liam Patterson-White is a left-arm finger spinner from Nottinghamshire who has received his first England Test call-up. He took 42 wickets at an average of 25.11 in the 2026 County Championship Division One season, the most wickets by a spinner in that competition.
When will England play the three Tests against South Africa?
The first Test is scheduled for December 17-21 in Johannesburg, the second for December 26-30 in Centurion, and the third for January 3-7 in Cape Town. England will also play a warm-up match against a Cricket South Africa XI in Durban from December 9 to 11.
Why has Jacob Bethell returned to England's Test squad?
Jacob Bethell has returned after recovering from a knee injury sustained during the summer. The injury kept him out of England's home Test series against Pakistan, and the selectors included him in the 15-player squad for the South Africa tour.