Will baby Faf end Proteas' 119-Test streak?

If Faf du Plessis misses the opening Test of the four-match series against England beginning July 6 at the Lord's, it will snap South Africa's 119-match streak to field him or AB de Villiers in their Playing XI.

Du Plessis is awaiting the arrival of his first child, who is expected in the first week of July, and with his wife Imari choosing a natural birth, there is no speeding up the due date.

If he is not able to make it back in time for the Test beginning July 6, the Proteas will be without a captain and a senior batsman, reports Sport24.

De Villiers, on the other hand, had taken a break from Test cricket after being ruled out of the tour of Australia last year with an injury. He, however, planned to return to the format in September, when Bangladesh will tour South Africa.

South Africa previously started the Test without the duo way back in November 2004 when they suffered an eight-wicket defeat against India in Kolkata.