Rookie opener Sarel Erwee savoured a maiden century as South Africa dominated day one of the second Test against New Zealand in Christchurch to be 238 for three at the close on Friday.
The first Test starts at Lord's on Wednesday.
Australia reduced South Africa to 149 for six at the close of play on the fourth day of the rain-disrupted third Test on Saturday after declaring on 475/4 in pursuit of a victory that would give them a 3-0 series sweep.
Images from Day 4 of the second Test between Australia and South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday.
Images from Day 3 of the second Test between Australia and South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
A fiery spell from captain Ben Stokes dragged England back into the match but South Africa remained the happier side as they reached 289/7 at the close on the second day of the first Test at Lord's on Thursday.
The bowling stocks looks good, but the major concern will be around the batting line-up, which struggled on the recent tour of England.
Bavuma has replaced Dean Elgar as skipper in the longest format, though the latter remains part of a much-changed squad.
Seamer Ollie Robinson took 5/49 as England skittled South Africa out for 118 on the third day of the third Test at The Oval on Saturday, before grinding their way to 154/7 in reply, a lead of 36 runs.
IMAGES from Day 2 of the 2nd Test played between England and South Africa played in Old Trafford on Friday.
While Saini took three for 42, fellow pacer Deepak Chahar claimed one for 35 and left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar picked up two wickets.
Jonny Bairstow led England to within 40 runs of South Africa's first innings total, with seven wickets in hand, on the first day of the second Test at Old Trafford on Thursday.
South Africa won the first Test in Durban by 220 runs, where they bowled Bangladesh out for 53 in their second innings.
Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan and skipper Hanuma Vihari hit a fifty each to guide India A to 229 for 6 in reply to South Africa A's 268 all out at stumps on the second day of the third unofficial Test, in Bloemfontein, on Tuesday.
Temba Bavuma scored an unbeaten half-century as South Africa reached 233 for four at end of Day 1
India will now lock horns with South Africa for three Tests and three ODIs, beginning December 26.
Kagiso Rabada is a huge figure in the South African seam attack and his loss for the opening Test against England would be a massive blow as he battles back from an ankle problem.
Bangladesh left-arm spinner Taijul Islam took 6/135 but the touring side struggled with the bat as they limped to 139 for five at the close on day two of the second and final Test against South Africa on Saturday.
After fast bowler Khaled Ahmed (2-59) had South Africa opener Sarel Erwee (24) caught by wicketkeeper Litton Das, Taijul claimed the next three wickets.
Fast bowler Duanne Olivier has been recalled for South Africa's home Test series against India, a reward for excellent domestic form from a player who shot to prominence four years ago before taking up a Kolpak contract.
South Africa in trouble at 58-4 in 'Boxing Day' Test
Australia completed a six-wicket victory within two days in the first Test against South Africa on Sunday as the Proteas crumbled on a green Gabba wicket that played straight into the home bowlers' hands.
South Africa lost two wickets after tea but extended their lead over New Zealand to 211 runs by the close of Day 3 to leave the second Test delicately poised, in Christchurch, on Sunday.
South Africa dug deep to deny Australia a 3-0 series sweep with a battling draw in the rain-disrupted third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday, finally finding some fight on the final day of a miserable tour.
Travis Head struck a belligerent half-century to give Australia the upper hand on day one of the series-opening Test against South Africa after the home side's bowlers dominated on a green Gabba wicket on Saturday.
Hanuma Vihari got some runs coming as India A scored 198 for 5 at stumps against South Africa A on the second day of the second unofficial Test, in Bloemfontein, on Wednesday. Vihari was batting on 45 at close of play, having found the fence six times while facing 146 balls.
South Africa will be led by captain Quinton de Kock as they come off a 2-0 home series win over Sri Lanka that concluded on Tuesday.
Images from Day 2 of the first Test between New Zealand and South Africa in Christchurch on Friday.
Meanwhile, South Africa have included uncapped off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen and seamer Lizaad Williams in their squad for the two-Test series in the West Indies that starts on June 10.
The selectors have added uncapped batsman Raynard van Tonder, seamer Lutho Sipamla and all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius to the squad.
Led by Quinton de Kock, South Africa's 44 cricketers, who are part of a men's high performance squad, have returned to training amid the COVID-19 pandemic after getting approval from the country's sports ministry. South Africa has reported more than 1,38,000 COVID-19 cases with over 2,400 deaths.
Sarfaraz, Imad Wasim dropped from Pakistan white-ball squad vs Australia.
Mayank Agarwal's continued his dream run smashing a double hundred in company of centurion Prithvi Shaw as India 'A' flayed the South African bowling attack to reach 411 for two on the second day of the 'four day' Test.
India 'A' suffered a massive collapse to be bowled out for 345 before the visiting South African team reached 213 for three at stumps on the second day of the second four-day 'Test' in Bengaluru.
India's formidably consistent match-winners have a date with history in the New Year when they take on an out-of-sorts South Africa in the second Test in Johannesburg from Monday in pursuit of a coveted first-ever series win in the Rainbow Nation.
India have a real shot at winning their first ever away series against South Africa,
Virat Kohli's talismanic presence will be the shot in the arm that India would need in their bid to win the historic first-ever away Test series against South Africa.
South Africa have slipped to number six in the world, behind fifth-placed Sri Lanka, and have a host of questions to answer, not least around a brittle top six and the balance of the side.
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis will miss the remainder of his side's limited overs tour to Sri Lanka after injuring his shoulder in Sunday's 78-run victory that clinched the one-day international series.
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