Squad: Joe Root (c), James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Matt Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood

In another addition to the pace battery, fast bowler Mark Wood has also been named after suffering a sufficiently long injury, though his selection in the playing eleven still remains dicey. Wood last played a Test in February, demolishing West Indies with a career-best 5 for 41 at St Lucia.

But Moeen Ali, long regarded as England's premier spinner in Test cricket, remains unavailable for selection. Moeen was dropped from the side following the defeat in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston this August and had requested for a break from the longest format. While it was expected that the 32-year-old would lead the spin department in South Africa, his absence gives left-armer Jack Leach and the young leg-spinner Matt Parkinson an opportunity to impress.

From the squad that recently lost 0-1 in New Zealand, only pacer Saqib Mahmood has been left out while all of batsmen Zak Crawley, Dom Sibley and Ollie Pope have retained their places.

The squad leaves for South Africa on December 13 for a four-Test series that follows warm-up games in Benoni from December 17 and 20. The first Test begins in Centurion on December 26 followed by games in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg.