Boxing Day will see two blockbuster clashes as Australia hosts India while South Africa plays Pakistan at Melbourne and Centurion, respectively. Both India and Australia will have their eyes on how South Africa performs with the three teams competing for a place in the 2025 World Test Championship final scheduled to take place at Lord's.

If the series is drawn 1-1: India will finish on 53.51; South Africa will have to lose both Tests, or Australia lose 1-0 in Sri Lanka or draw 0-0; a 0-0 draw will leave Australia and India level on 53.51%, but India will finish ahead on the basis of more series wins in this cycle (three to two). If Sri Lanka win 2-0, they will finish ahead of India

South African captain Temba Bavuma on Tuesday announced an all-pace attack for the first Test against Pakistan starting at SuperSport Park in Centurion

Shan Masood (C), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Saud Shakeel, Salman Agha, Aamer Jamal, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas. South Africa vs Pakistan Live Score: South Africa (Playing XI) - Aiden Markram,

Fifteen Tests, two wins, 12 defeats, and no joy since 2007. Micky Arthur and Mushtaq Ahmed ponder the whys and what nexts | ESPN.com

Pakistan and South Africa will face off in a two-match Test series with the opening Test to be held from December 26 at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.