The upcoming three-match ODI series between South Africa and England carries huge significance for both teams, as the Proteas look to secure a spot in the ODI World Cup while the Three Lions aim to return to their winning ways.
For South Africa, the series is of paramount importance as they recently abandoned an ODI series against Australia, resulting in the loss of all 30 Super League points that were up for grabs. This has left them in a difficult position, currently sitting with just 59 points from 16 games. To earn a direct qualification for the World Cup, the Proteas will need to win all of their remaining matches and hope that other teams like West Indies, Sri Lanka, and Ireland drop points, allowing them to secure the number eight spot.
On the other hand, England is looking to bounce back after a string of poor performances in their last three ODI series. The return of ace pacer Jofra Archer is expected to be a massive boost for the team, but they still have several areas of concern that need to be addressed. The team is currently struggling to fill the void left by the retirement of Eoin Morgan and the absence of Ben Stokes, with the middle-order being a particular area of concern. Additionally, Sam Curran’s form is also a worry for the team.
In terms of playing combinations, South Africa will be heavily dependent on their pace trio of Kagiso Rabada, Wayne Parnell, and Anrich Nortje, with Parnell in particularly good form at the moment. The Proteas’ predicted playing XI includes Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Tabraiz Shamsi.
For England, the return of Jofra Archer will be a major boost, but their middle-order will be put to the test as they look to improve in the absence of Morgan and Stokes. The predicted playing XI for the Three Lions includes Jason Roy, Phil Salt, Dawid Malan, Jos Buttler (wk/c), Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Reece Topley, Jofra Archer, and Adil Rashid.
In terms of head-to-head statistics, South Africa and England have played a total of 66 matches, with the Proteas winning 31, the Three Lions winning 29, 5 matches ending in no result, and 1 match ending in a tie.
The first ODI between South Africa and England will be played at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein, and will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network in India and streaming live on the SonyLIV app and website. The match will start at 4:30 pm IST.
With so much at stake for both teams, it promises to be an exciting and closely contested series. South Africa will be determined to secure their place in the World Cup while England will be looking to get back to winning ways and solidify their position as one of the top teams in the world. The Proteas will be looking to take advantage of their home ground and put their best foot forward, but England will not be easy to beat. The series promises to be an exciting one, with both teams looking to gain the upper hand in the race for ODI World Cup qualification.
