England vs South Africa Tests Summer 2022: England Won 2–1 — Bazball Continues, Ollie Pope 73*
England's home Test series against South Africa in the summer of 2022 was a three-Test series played in August 2022. England won 2–1. First Test Lord's (17–21 Aug): South Africa won by an innings and 12 runs — SA 326 (Sarel Erwee 73, Dean Elgar 47); ENG 165 (Kagiso Rabada 5/52) & 149 (Rabada 4/40). Second Test Old Trafford (25–29 Aug): England won by an innings and 85 runs — ENG 415/9 declared (Jonny Bairstow 99, Zak Crawley 69); SA 151 (James Anderson 5/28) & 179. Third Test The Oval (8–12 Sep): England won by 9 wickets — SA 118 (Anderson 4/23) & 169; ENG 158 & 131/1 (Ollie Pope 73*). Series result: England 2–1 South Africa. Ben Stokes captained England; Dean Elgar captained South Africa. Series also notable for SA batter Sarel Erwee's debut series.
England hosted South Africa for a three-Test series in August–September 2022 — the second home Test series of England's transformative Bazball era under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. South Africa, captained by Dean Elgar, arrived having won the Lord's Test convincingly. England had already beaten New Zealand 3-0 and India 2-2 in earlier Bazball matches. The series would again test whether England's positive approach could work against South Africa's strong pace attack.
South Africa Win Lord's, England Hit Back
South Africa won the first Test at Lord's (17–21 August) by an innings and 12 runs. England were dismissed for 165 and 149 — Kagiso Rabada taking 5/52 and 4/40 across the two innings. South Africa had posted 326 in their only innings, with Sarel Erwee scoring 73 on Test debut. England levelled the series in the second Test at Old Trafford (25–29 August), winning by an innings and 85 runs. England declared at 415 for 9 — Jonny Bairstow scoring 99 and Zak Crawley 69. James Anderson then took 5/28 as South Africa were bowled out for 151 in their first innings; they fell for 179 in the second. England's dominant innings win put the series level at 1-1.
The Oval: England Clinch Series 2-1
The series decider at The Oval (8–12 September) saw England prevail by 9 wickets to take the series 2-1. South Africa were bowled out for just 118 in their first innings — Anderson taking 4/23. England then posted 158. South Africa added 169 in their second innings, setting England 130 to win. Ollie Pope's 73 not out guided England home to a 9-wicket win. The series win confirmed that England's Bazball approach could beat South Africa at home, and cemented Stokes and McCullum's transformation of England Test cricket.
Frequently asked questions
What were the results of England's home Test series against South Africa in 2022?
England beat South Africa 2-1 in the 2022 home Test series. South Africa won the first Test at Lord's by an innings and 12 runs (Kagiso Rabada 5/52 and 4/40). England won the second Test at Old Trafford by an innings and 85 runs (James Anderson 5/28; Bairstow 99, Crawley 69). England won the third Test at The Oval by 9 wickets (Anderson 4/23 first innings; Pope 73* in the chase). Ben Stokes captained England; Dean Elgar captained South Africa. It was England's second home Bazball series win in 2022.