- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,479
After a 3-1 defeat in the Test series, can Quinton de Kock get the best out of his young one-day unit against the world champions?
Overview
South Africa v England, 1st ODI
Newlands, Cape Town
Tuesday, 4 February; 1.00pm local, 11.00 GMT
Despite a promising start, South Africa’s challenge fizzled away rapidly in the four-match Test series. But if that challenge was uphill, now they brace for arguably an even tougher one, against Eoin Morgan’s No.1-ranked ODI side that lifted its maiden ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup trophy in 2019 at home.
South Africa would no doubt breathe a sigh of relief at the fact that they won’t have to contend with all-rounder Ben Stokes and wicket-keeper batsman Jos Buttler, two of the heroes of that World Cup triumph back in July last year. Besides, England have some one-day rust to dust off, with this series being their first assignment in the 50-over format since the World Cup. But with Jonny Bairstow, Joe Denly, Jason Roy and Test captain Joe Root hitting form in the warm-up fixtures, the threat looms large in front of the visitors.
As for South Africa, they will be without their Test captain Faf du Plessis, whose one-day record continues to feature among the world’s best. Du Plessis’ absence paves the way for Temba Bavuma to make his long-awaited ODI return – he last played in the format in October 2017.
South Africa will also be without their pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada, who has been rested from the series, leaving the onus on the returning Lungi Ngidi to lead the pace attack. A reportedly leaner Ngidi has cleared multiple fitness trials at the Cricket South Africa strength and conditioning camp, in a bid to return from the hamstring injury, which he sustained during last year’s Mzansi Super League. South Africa could also be looking at handing out four maiden caps, to fast bowler Lutho Sipamla, left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin, opener Janneman Malan and wicket-keeper batsman Kyle Verreynne, through the course of the series.
The last time South Africa faced England in an away ODI series, in May 2017, they were beaten 1-2 – the third in a run of unbeaten multi-game bilateral ODI series which England are now looking to extend to 12. Given how things have changed in both camps since then, it will take some doing on the visitors’ part to obtain a different result this time.
What happened last time
Imran Tahir struck with the second ball of the 2019 World Cup, but England recovered to put up 311/8, after half centuries from Jason Roy, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes. De Kock unfurled a series of boundaries to lift South Africa to 129/2 in the chase, before England cut through the middle order to send the opposition packing for 207.
What they said
Eoin Morgan, England captain: "Before the next [50-over] World Cup, we have two T20 World Cups that we are eyeing, so this series against South Africa will allow us to build a broader squad so that in three or four years' time, we have a substantial group to select from, just like we did before this past World Cup.”
David Miller, South Africa batsman: "We are playing the world champions at the end of the day. But cricket is cricket, and everyone's beatable. If we come with the right approach and mindset, and we nail down what we need to do, which is take wickets and score runs, I think it's going to be a really good competition."
Conditions
Cape Town has tended to favour batsmen in recent times, evidenced by the high scores and one-sided results produced in the last five matches at the venue. In the last ODI here, in March 2019, Sri Lanka were dismissed for a well under-par 225, with South Africa cruising to victory on 135/2 after 28 overs before a floodlight failure prevented any further play, giving the hosts a 41-run win on DLS.
https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1601256
Overview
South Africa v England, 1st ODI
Newlands, Cape Town
Tuesday, 4 February; 1.00pm local, 11.00 GMT
Despite a promising start, South Africa’s challenge fizzled away rapidly in the four-match Test series. But if that challenge was uphill, now they brace for arguably an even tougher one, against Eoin Morgan’s No.1-ranked ODI side that lifted its maiden ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup trophy in 2019 at home.
South Africa would no doubt breathe a sigh of relief at the fact that they won’t have to contend with all-rounder Ben Stokes and wicket-keeper batsman Jos Buttler, two of the heroes of that World Cup triumph back in July last year. Besides, England have some one-day rust to dust off, with this series being their first assignment in the 50-over format since the World Cup. But with Jonny Bairstow, Joe Denly, Jason Roy and Test captain Joe Root hitting form in the warm-up fixtures, the threat looms large in front of the visitors.
As for South Africa, they will be without their Test captain Faf du Plessis, whose one-day record continues to feature among the world’s best. Du Plessis’ absence paves the way for Temba Bavuma to make his long-awaited ODI return – he last played in the format in October 2017.
South Africa will also be without their pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada, who has been rested from the series, leaving the onus on the returning Lungi Ngidi to lead the pace attack. A reportedly leaner Ngidi has cleared multiple fitness trials at the Cricket South Africa strength and conditioning camp, in a bid to return from the hamstring injury, which he sustained during last year’s Mzansi Super League. South Africa could also be looking at handing out four maiden caps, to fast bowler Lutho Sipamla, left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin, opener Janneman Malan and wicket-keeper batsman Kyle Verreynne, through the course of the series.
The last time South Africa faced England in an away ODI series, in May 2017, they were beaten 1-2 – the third in a run of unbeaten multi-game bilateral ODI series which England are now looking to extend to 12. Given how things have changed in both camps since then, it will take some doing on the visitors’ part to obtain a different result this time.
What happened last time
Imran Tahir struck with the second ball of the 2019 World Cup, but England recovered to put up 311/8, after half centuries from Jason Roy, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes. De Kock unfurled a series of boundaries to lift South Africa to 129/2 in the chase, before England cut through the middle order to send the opposition packing for 207.
What they said
Eoin Morgan, England captain: "Before the next [50-over] World Cup, we have two T20 World Cups that we are eyeing, so this series against South Africa will allow us to build a broader squad so that in three or four years' time, we have a substantial group to select from, just like we did before this past World Cup.”
David Miller, South Africa batsman: "We are playing the world champions at the end of the day. But cricket is cricket, and everyone's beatable. If we come with the right approach and mindset, and we nail down what we need to do, which is take wickets and score runs, I think it's going to be a really good competition."
Conditions
Cape Town has tended to favour batsmen in recent times, evidenced by the high scores and one-sided results produced in the last five matches at the venue. In the last ODI here, in March 2019, Sri Lanka were dismissed for a well under-par 225, with South Africa cruising to victory on 135/2 after 28 overs before a floodlight failure prevented any further play, giving the hosts a 41-run win on DLS.
https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1601256
