England vs South Africa live stream: how to watch 1st Test cricket online from anywhere, Day 3

England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler takes the catch for the wicket of South Africa batsman Dean Elgar as Ben Stokes appeals

(Image credit: Stu Forster/Getty Images)

It's got to be all England from here on in if they're to stand a chance of rescuing the 1st Test. Day 3 begins with South Africa 124 ahead on 289-7, the hosts having clawed their way back into contention before a costly spell late on Thursday. The new ball should help England snuff out the tail, but what happens when they step out on the crease is anybody's guess these days. Read on as we explain how to watch an England vs South Africa live stream and see the 1st Test online from anywhere.

England vs South Africa 1st Test live stream

Dates: August 17-21

Start time: 10.30am BST (local) / 11.30am SAST / 3pm IST / 7.30pm AEST / 9.30pm NZST / 5.30am ET

Venue: Lord's Cricket Ground, London

Watch anywhere: try ExpressVPN 100% risk-free

Tempers flared ahead of the series, with South Africa captain Dean Elgar and England skipper Ben Stokes engaged in a war of words about who cares the least about Bazball (it's the public).

The World Test Championship leaders were hammered by England's reserves in their warm-up match last week, and having been revitalised by Stokes and new coach Brendon McCullum, confidence in the hosts' camp was through the roof ahead of play.

England have won four of their last five Tests by playing aggressive, but the South Africans have started this Test on the front foot, with Elgar hell-bent not just on beating England but sending the entire setup into freefall.

Follow our guide for all the details you need to find a reliable England vs South Africa 1st Test live stream and watch every session online from wherever you are.

England vs South Africa Test schedule: dates and times

1st Test: August 17-21 一 Lord's, London 一 10.30am BST / 11.30am SAST
2nd Test: August 25-29 一 Old Trafford, Manchester 一 11am BST / 12pm SAST
3rd Test: September 8-12 一 The Oval, London 一 11am BST / 12pm SAST

How to watch England vs South Africa for FREE in Australia

Cricket fans Down Under can watch England vs South Africa on Fox Cricket (channel 501) and via Foxtel, with play set to begin at 7.30pm AEST on each day of the 1st Test.

If you don't have Fox as part of a pay TV package, your best option is to sign up for a Kayo Sports FREE trial.

It features no lock-in contracts and gives you access to over 50 other sports including the NRL, soccer, F1, NFL... the list goes on! Handy if you don't want to go all-out on Fox.

After that, the Basic Package costs $25 per month and allows users to stream across two devices simultaneously. The service also offers a Premium Package, which provides three concurrent streams for $35 per month.

Outside Australia? Don't forget, you can take your cricket coverage abroad with you as well. For those wanting to watch home coverage of sports from overseas, a good VPN is the solution.

How to watch England vs South Africa Test cricket from outside your country

Below we've got you covered with your official England vs South Africa broadcasting options for the UK, South Africa, India, New Zealand and the US, but if you're currently outside your country of residence and trying to stream the cricket via your local broadcaster, you'll soon discover that you can't, as it's location restricted. But there is a way to tune in regardless.

By downloading and installing a VPN, you can effectively trick your computer into thinking that it's back at home. That way you can enjoy your home coverage without having to find an illegal stream - assuming you comply with the broadcaster's fine print, of course, specifically its terms and conditions.

Use a VPN to live stream cricket from anywhere

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How to watch England vs South Africa: live stream Test cricket in the UK

In the UK, Sky Sports is providing exclusive live coverage of the England vs South Africa Test series. Play gets underway at 10.30am BST throughout the 1st Test, with Sky's coverage starting at 10am on the opening day and 10.15am thereafter.

Find the best Sky TV deals and packages and sign up on the Sky website. And if you can't watch on TV, the Sky Go app has you covered so that you can watch on your laptop, mobile, tablet, Xbox or PS4.

If you're looking to watch the England vs South Africa series but don't fancy being locked in to a long, expensive contract, consider the more flexible streaming option, Now. Now sports passes start at £11.99.

And if you're outside the UK and want to watch your cricket coverage at home, don't worry about geo-blockers - just pick up a good VPN and follow the instructions below to safely live stream the action.

South Africa flag — (Image credit: Future)

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How to watch England vs South Africa: live stream Test cricket in India

In India, the Sony Sports Network has the rights to broadcast the England vs South Africa Test series, with play set to begin at 3pm IST on each day of the match.

Sony Ten 2 and Ten 2 HD will telecast the 1st Test with English commentary.

If you'd prefer to watch on an app or website, Sony Liv will be streaming the match 一 but you'll need a premium subscription to watch England vs South Africa live, which costs Rs 999 for a year, Rs 699 for six months, or Rs 299 per month. Jio users can watch the series free of cost with the JioTV mobile application.

Anyone outside of India who wants to watch their home cricket coverage can just pick up a good VPN and follow the instructions above to safely live stream the action.

The best data plans to catch all the live action (India-only)

How to watch England vs South Africa: live stream 1st Test in New Zealand

Cricket fans can watch England vs South Africa on Spark Sport in New Zealand, but with play set to get underway at 9.30pm NZST across the last four days of the 1st Test, you're going to have to stay up seriously late to catch the action live.

The better news is that Spark Sport offers a 7-day free trial so you can try before you buy.

Once that's expired, a subscription costs $24.99 per month, and includes plenty of Black Caps action, The Hundred, as well as F1 and MotoGP racing.

Spark Sport is available via web browsers on your PC or Mac, plus Apple and Android mobile devices, Chromecast, Apple TV, selected Samsung, Sony, Panasonic and LG TVs, and select Freeview streamers.

England vs South Africa live stream: where to watch Test cricket in the US

Dedicated streaming service Willow TV is where cricket fans can watch England vs South Africa live in the US, with play starting at 5.30am ET / 2.30am PT across the last four days of the 1st Test.

Willow TV (also available in Canada), is available from a number of cable providers including Dish, Spectrum, Xfinity, Verizon Fios and more.

Perhaps a better option for those looking for an alternative to cable would be to opt for a cord-cutting streaming service like Sling TV. If you already have Sling, then you can add Willow TV for an extra $5 for one month. And if you don't, then you can currently bag a big six of a bargain by getting Sling TV - featuring 30+ channels - with your first month currently available with a 50% discount.

Aatif is a freelance copywriter and journalist based in the UK. He’s written about technology, science and politics for publications including Gizmodo, The Independent, Trusted Reviews and Newsweek, but focuses on streaming at Future, an arrangement that combines two of his greatest passions: sport and penny-pinching.