Earlier this week Dean Elgar was named as the Proteas captain for at least this Test, and this means that both skippers will have ties with Bloemfontein and Central South Africa.

Elgar was a long time servant of Free State and VKB Knights cricket before moving to the Titans.

The English captain, Joe Root, in his turn attended school in the City of Roses for a short while.

Root attended St Andrew’s School in 2009, while the 30-year-old Elgar is a product of St Dominic's College in Welkom.

This fact has been confirmed by Ewie Cronje, the father of the late Hansie Cronje, who was the last Proteas captain hailing from the Free State.

Both these players will be leading their respective teams in Test arena for the first time.

The Proteas seamer, Vernon Philander, who is fit and ready after his injury, says that Elgar has the full backing of his team.

“He’s got a job to do and I would like to believe he will do it in honour of his country irrespective of if it’s one, two, three or ten Test matches.

“Each time we go out there we represent our country and it could be our last Test match and we are all going to give it our best shot.

“I would like to wish him the best in his first Test as captain and hopefully he can get a win under his belt and put a bit of pressure on Faf.

“It’s a once-off Test and hopefully he is going to do well.”

Thursday’s first Test at Lords in London is scheduled to begin at 12:00.

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport