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Archer injury opens door for Woakes return, Hendricks makes Proteas debut

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Chris Woakes replaces Dom Bess in the only change to the England side after Jofra Archer was ruled out and Beuran Hendricks makes his South Africa Test debut in the final match of the series at the Wanderers.

Archer was pushing for a return in Johannesburg, but the paceman was troubled by his right elbow in the warm-up after the start was delayed due to rain on Friday.

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The quick missed the tourists' victories at Newlands and St George's Park due to an elbow injury and will play no part as Joe Root's side, leading 2-1, attempt to complete a series win.

England have gone with an all-seam attack, Woakes making his first appearance of the series, Mark Wood retaining his place and spinner Bess missing out despite claiming a maiden five-wicket Test haul in Port Elizabeth.

Fast bowler Hendricks gets the nod to make his Test bow in the absence of the banned Kagiso Rabada, while Temba Bavuma and Dwaine Pretorius replace Zubayr Hamza and Keshav Maharaj respectively.

Root won the toss and elected to bat in Vernon Philander's final Test, with play due to start at 1.20pm local time. 

 

South Africa: Malan, Elgar, van der Dussen, du Plessis (captain), de Kock (wk), Bavuma, Pretorius, Philander, Nortje, Paterson, Hendricks.

England: Crawley, Sibley, Denly, Root (captain), Stokes, Pope, Buttler (wk), Curran, Woakes, Wood, Broad.

 

 

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