Wanderers - a pacers' paradise

2-1 South Africa's win-loss record against England at the Wanderers Stadium since their readmission. The last three Tests played between the teams at this venue have ended in a decisive result: the hosts won two Tests by an innings margin and England won in 2004-05 by 77 runs. In the last Test between the teams here in 2009-10, South Africa won by an innings and 74 runs.

10-8 South Africa's win-loss record in Johannesburg since 1992. Their win-loss ratio of 1.25 at this venue is their worst among home venues. South Africa's eight losses in Tests at the Wanderers are the most for them at any venue.

0 Number of five-wicket hauls taken by spinners in Tests at the Wanderers Stadium in the last 20 years. Among 38 venues that have hosted at least ten Tests in the last 20 years, Wanderers is the only venue which has not seen a single five-for from spinners. Since 1996, spinners have taken 85 wickets at 39.31 in Johannesburg.

9.7 Average wickets lost per day on the first two days in Tests in Johannesburg in the last ten years - the highest among 63 venues that have hosted at least two Tests. Teams have scored 26.32 runs per wicket lost in the first couple of days, which is the third lowest among these venues. In five of the nine matches, both teams have been bowled out in the first innings within two days. In England's previous Test here in 2009-10, 12 wickets fell in the first two days even though only 111.1 overs were possible because of rain interruptions. There have been only three first-innings totals in excess of 300 at this venue since 2006, which are the least for any venue that has hosted at least five Tests in the last ten years.

22.60 Fast bowlers' average in the first innings in Johannesburg - the best they have averaged in teams' first innings at any venue to host at least two Tests since 2006. Fast bowlers have found conditions helpful at the Wanderers - especially on the first two days - with a wicket every 43.4 deliveries, the most frequently they have struck at any venue.

6 Number of ten-wicket hauls taken by fast bowlers in Tests at the Wanderers since 1992. No other venue has had as many instances. Fast bowlers have averaged 28.86 and have taken 23 five-wicket hauls at the Wanderers.

12 Number of times out of the last 14 Tests in Johannesburg since 2000, teams winning the toss have opted to bat first. In these 12 instances, teams that have chosen to bat first have a 7-4 won-loss record with the last Test between the hosts and India ending in a draw.

40 Wickets Hardus Viljoen - who is one of the five pacers in South Africa's squad - has taken in his last five first-class games at the Wanderers. Viljoen has averaged 13.95 in his last five matches at this venue and has taken at least four wickets in seven innings including five five-wicket hauls. Overall, Viljoen has taken 296 first-class wickets at an average of 25.77. Kagiso Rabada too has done well at this venue, having taken 27 first-class wickets at 14.96 apiece, including a career-best haul of 9 for 33 against Dolphins last year. Chris Morris has 38 first-class dismissal at the Wanderers, the most he has at any venue.

78.85 AB de Villiers' batting average in his last five Tests at the Wanderers. He has made 552 runs in nine innings including three hundreds and three fifties. De Villiers has made a hundred in each of his last two Tests here. In his first five Tests here De Villiers had averaged only 11.22. Overall, Hashim Amla is the highest run-getter from either squad at the Wanderers, having made 697 runs at 53.61. Only three England players from their current squad have played in Tests in Johannesburg before, with Alastair Cook scoring 22 runs in the 2009-10 Test.