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South Africa tour of England (2025) - (3 ODIs and 3 T20Is)

England have now lost five of the six bilateral ODI series they have played since the 2023 World Cup.
 
England have now lost five of the six bilateral ODI series they have played since the 2023 World Cup.
Yes, they have hit a new low in this format, although some of those games, like today's, were close games

England have won just 7 of their 21 ODIs since the 2023 World Cup, to be more precise
 
Again, Temba Bavuma (because of the wretched quota system), the weakest link in South African batting, is unfairly occupying a spot that should go to a more deserving player such as Reeza Hendricks.
 
Adil Rashid has 10 FC hundreds, but I have never seen him make runs in an important international game
 
Just looked at the scorecard, showed me how important the 5th bowler is. Both of the teams conceded alot of runs, especially England;
Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks gave away 112 runs in their 10 overs, that's 11,2 runs an over. Even in T20s that economoy rate is too high.
 
England have gone nine straight games without a win against teams that featured in the 2023 ODI World Cup

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Update: England Men's IT20 squad

England Men have confirmed changes to the squads for the forthcoming Vitality IT20 series against South Africa and the subsequent IT20 series in Ireland.

Opening batter Ben Duckett will be rested for the three-match series against South Africa.

Surrey all-rounder Sam Curran has been added to the squad for the fixtures against South Africa, which commence at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, next Wednesday. Curran has also been included in the squad for the IT20 tour of Ireland later this month.

Durham seamer Matthew Potts has been released from the Ireland IT20 squad to enable him to represent his county in the final rounds of the Rothesay County Championship.

IT20 Squad v South Africa:

Harry Brook (Yorkshire) – Captain
Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire)
Jofra Archer (Sussex)
Tom Banton (Somerset)
Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire)
Jos Buttler (Lancashire)
Brydon Carse (Durham)
Sam Curran (Surrey)
Liam Dawson (Hampshire)
Will Jacks (Surrey)
Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire)
Jamie Overton (Surrey)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Phil Salt (Lancashire)
Jamie Smith (Surrey)
Luke Wood (Lancashire)

IT20 Squad v Ireland:

Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire) - Captain
Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire)
Sonny Baker (Hampshire)
Tom Banton (Somerset)
Jos Buttler (Lancashire)
Jordan Cox (Essex)
Sam Curran (Surrey)
Liam Dawson (Hampshire)
Tom Hartley (Lancashire)
Will Jacks (Surrey)
Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire)
Jamie Overton (Surrey)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Phil Salt (Lancashire)
Luke Wood (Lancashire)

 

England Men name XI for third Metro Bank ODI against South Africa​

England Men have named their XI for the third Metro Bank ODI against South Africa, which takes place on Sunday at the Utilita Bowl.

England make one change with Surrey all-rounder Jamie Overton replacing Saqib Mahmood.

South Africa lead the three-match series 2-0 after victories at Headingley and Lord's.

England Men's XI​

1. Jamie Smith
2. Ben Duckett
3. Joe Root
4. Harry Brook (c)
5. Jos Buttler (wk)
6. Jacob Bethell
7. Will Jacks
8. Jamie Overton
9. Brydon Carse
10. Jofra Archer
11. Adil Rashid
 
England vs South Africa, 3rd ODI

South Africa have won the toss and have opted to field

Teams:

South Africa (Playing XI): Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton(w), Temba Bavuma(c), Matthew Breetzke, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Wiaan Mulder, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Codi Yusuf, Nandre Burger

England (Playing XI): Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook(c), Jos Buttler(w), Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid
 
England thrash South Africa by a massive 342 runs in the 3rd ODI

RSA win back to back ODI series against Australia and England

However they got got hammered in the dead rubber (3rd ODI) of both series
 
acob Bethell scored his much-anticipated first professional century before Jofra Archer ripped through South Africa as England thrashed the Proteas by a record 342 runs in the third one-day international in Southampton.

With the series gone, 21-year-old Bethell, long tipped for a huge future despite his meagre county experience, delivered on all of his promise by elegantly hitting 110 from 82 balls in England's cruise to 414-5.

The left-hander put on 182 with Joe Root, who himself stroked a 96-ball 100, to lay a platform before Jos Buttler took on the scoring with a destructive 62 not out from 32 balls.

It was England's highest total in ODIs for three years and their best effort at home since 2018, while Bethell's ton, in his 33rd international innings, made him England's second-youngest ODI centurion after David Gower.

South Africa were well below the standards set in their impressive wins at Headingley and Lord's which had already secured the series with a game to spare.

They dropped Bethell on 44, gave away 19 wides and were 72-9 in 20.5 overs when the players shook hands with Temba Bavuma unable to bat - England's winning margin the largest in the history of men's ODIs in terms of runs.

Archer took four wickets in a fast and hostile new-ball spell, reducing the Proteas to 7-4 and 24-6 from which they never recovered. He finished with 4-18 and Adil Rashid 3-13.

Though the series was already gone, this was a morale-boosting win for England after a difficult run in the 50-over format.

The same sides now play a three-match T20 series starting on Wednesday in Cardiff.


BBC
 
England won the 3rd ODI by 342 runs. Wow!

This is the largest win in ODI's history.

Anyway, South Africa won the series 2-1.
 
Very low intensity. They didn't really have any plans even while bowling and batting. Lot of rubbish wides were served up. I was curiously watching hoping for some fireworks from Brevis even in a losing cause. It was tepid affair for huge crowd.
 
Saffers will never be a top class side as long as they keep playing the likes of even Codi Yusuf ahead of Coetzee.

Having said that , this was Archer's 3rd fastest powerplay spell, averaging 144 kph. The two other instances when he bowled quicker in that phase were in the 2019 World Cup, against SA and Bangladesh.
 
England still have some things to figure out in ODI but the performances of Jamie Smith and Jacob Bethell should give them alot of confidence.

Bethell seems ready to over the Moeen Ali spot, and even seems like he can capably bat in the middle-order.

Also nice to see Archer bowling like the Archer of old.
 
*England Men name XI for first Vitality IT20*

England Men have named their XI for the first Vitality IT20 against South Africa at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Wednesday.
All-rounder Sam Curran is selected into the IT20 team for the first time since last winter’s tour of the Caribbean while Phil Salt returns after his paternity leave for the series against West Indies in June.

*England XI*

1.Phil Salt
2.Jos Buttler
3.Jacob Bethell
4.Harry Brook ©
5.Sam Curran
6.Tom Banton
7.Will Jacks
8.Jamie Overton
9.Liam Dawson
10.Jofra Archer
11.Adil Rashid
 
As always, South Africa's ODI team looking really good going into the World Cup. All bases covered and bench strength looking very strong too. They are playing a good variety of major teams home and away before the World Cup. They've already won ODI series in England and Australia, next they have ODI series in Pakistan and India.

Very good side in T20I too with the T20 World Cup right around the corner.

Let's see how they screw it up this time.
 
As always, South Africa's ODI team looking really good going into the World Cup. All bases covered and bench strength looking very strong too. They are playing a good variety of major teams home and away before the World Cup. They've already won ODI series in England and Australia, next they have ODI series in Pakistan and India.

Very good side in T20I too with the T20 World Cup right around the corner.

Let's see how they screw it up this time.

South Africa have never had a strong squad of 15 except maybe 2011.

We just tend to assume that they are covered in all departments.

They are still persisting with Bavuma in that top order. Rickleton is still unproven in this format.

Burger and Ngidi are nowhere near the quality of Jansen and Coetzee at their best.

Also, their 5th and 6th bowling options are average to bad.

Lots of things to rectify before the World Cup if they don't want another heartbreak
 
South Africa have never had a strong squad of 15 except maybe 2011.

We just tend to assume that they are covered in all departments.

They are still persisting with Bavuma in that top order. Rickleton is still unproven in this format.

Burger and Ngidi are nowhere near the quality of Jansen and Coetzee at their best.

Also, their 5th and 6th bowling options are average to bad.

Lots of things to rectify before the World Cup if they don't want another heartbreak
People are very negative on Bavuma, but his numbers in ODI are actually fairly good. And he has 5 ODI centuries to boot. Rickleton may be somewhat unproven but I don't think anyone can doubt his talent. And he should get far more exposure as they play more ODIs in the run-up to the World Cup.

Ofcourse no team is perfect, but you gotta look at the positives too. Maharaj is bowling incredibly well and has become a very reliable spin option for them. They have two seam-bowling all-rounders Mulder and Bosch, who are both capable of making the playing XI and also happen to be excellent fielders. Mulder in particular has improved leaps and bounds with bat and ball. Breetzke has had one of the most remarkable starts that any player has ever had to their ODI career. And then you got Stubbs and Brevis in the middle-order, two players who are capable of changing the game on a dime.

Burger and Ngidi may not be on the level of Jansen, Coetzee or Rabada. But they are still pretty good as the bench strength. Ngidi may be somewhat diminished compared to his early years but he is still a wicket-taker and someone who can bowl quite smartly. Burger is underrated and I don't think we have seen the best of him yet. If Nortje can regain his fitness, that attack becomes even more fearsome. You got Mpakha waiting in the wings too as a name for the future..
 
People are very negative on Bavuma, but his numbers in ODI are actually fairly good. And he has 5 ODI centuries to boot. Rickleton may be somewhat unproven but I don't think anyone can doubt his talent. And he should get far more exposure as they play more ODIs in the run-up to the World Cup.

Ofcourse no team is perfect, but you gotta look at the positives too. Maharaj is bowling incredibly well and has become a very reliable spin option for them. They have two seam-bowling all-rounders Mulder and Bosch, who are both capable of making the playing XI and also happen to be excellent fielders. Mulder in particular has improved leaps and bounds with bat and ball. Breetzke has had one of the most remarkable starts that any player has ever had to their ODI career. And then you got Stubbs and Brevis in the middle-order, two players who are capable of changing the game on a dime.

Burger and Ngidi may not be on the level of Jansen, Coetzee or Rabada. But they are still pretty good as the bench strength. Ngidi may be somewhat diminished compared to his early years but he is still a wicket-taker and someone who can bowl quite smartly. Burger is underrated and I don't think we have seen the best of him yet. If Nortje can regain his fitness, that attack becomes even more fearsome. You got Mpakha waiting in the wings too as a name for the future..

Bavuma has played 53 ODIs only in his career. And in his last 24 ODIs , he has averaged 26 with the bat . At the age of 35, that's not particularly encouraging especially considering the increasing number of injuries he has had.

Rassie was also in decline but Saffers have rightly moved on from him.

Rickleton and Stubbs are unproven and should get the long rope but it'll cost the Saffers even more if a senior like Bavuma also hasn't pulled his weight in 2 years.

Brevis himself only averages 22 in 6 ODIs and is still establishing himself

This is a lineup that depends heavily on Markram and Breetzke after the retirements of QDK and Klassen and in the absence of Miller.

Yes there are positives but some positives are always there for SA. They are always a side with a high floor.

But their weak links have been exposed at every World Cup so far.
 
Bavuma has played 53 ODIs only in his career. And in his last 24 ODIs , he has averaged 26 with the bat . At the age of 35, that's not particularly encouraging especially considering the increasing number of injuries he has had.

Rassie was also in decline but Saffers have rightly moved on from him.

Rickleton and Stubbs are unproven and should get the long rope but it'll cost the Saffers even more if a senior like Bavuma also hasn't pulled his weight in 2 years.

Brevis himself only averages 22 in 6 ODIs and is still establishing himself

This is a lineup that depends heavily on Markram and Breetzke after the retirements of QDK and Klassen and in the absence of Miller.

Yes there are positives but some positives are always there for SA. They are always a side with a high floor.

But their weak links have been exposed at every World Cup so far.
You have a point about Bavuma. For me, his injuries are the biggest problem.

As for the others, they may be unproven, but all of them are talented players who have played a fair bit of international cricket now, and certainly will play alot more between now and 2027.

Completely forgot about Miller, who is a bankable option for them at 6 and very much in their plans for the World Cup. The inclusion of Miller would also mean that they won't have to play both Brevis and Stubbs who are playing somewhat similar roles in the side right now.

Like I said, it's not perfect, but South Africa have far more sorted out about their 2027 plans than most teams. And above all, they are getting the results.
 
Brevis is exhibiting art of range hitting. zero slogging. Guys like him are going to be consistent.
 
Rain again interrupts match between England and South Africa

South Africa were 97/5 after (7.5/9) overs
 
chasing 69 in 5 oves Harry brook out for 0 in 4 balls lol 4 balls no run in such a chase is a massive crime
 
South Africa beat England 2-1 in the ODI series. They are now looking good to go up 1-0 in the T20 series.

South Africa are now clearly a top 3 team (they have overtaken England).
 
South Africa beat England 2-1 in the ODI series. They are now looking good to go up 1-0 in the T20 series.

South Africa are now clearly a top 3 team (they have overtaken England).

South Africa win the 1st T20 and go up 1-0.
 
The shortened game helped South Africa. Always disadvantages the team batting second. D/L method usually favours the team batting first.

I think South Africa should've won anyway. They are better than England.

They won the ODI series 2-1.
 
England suffered a 14-run defeat by South Africa in a farcical rain-affected opening T20 at Cardiff.

A delayed start saw the match reduced to nine overs per side, and the Proteas blitzed 97-5 in 7.5 overs before another rain disruption.

England's target was revised to 69 in five overs, and with little choice but to attack from the outset, they reached 43-5 needing 26 from five balls.

From there, the recalled Sam Curran whacked a six to offer the hosts a glimmer of hope, but the tourists eventually closed out a comfortable win as England finished on 54-5 with two wickets apiece for Corbin Bosch and Marco Jansen.

Jos Buttler had kept England alive with 25 from 11, including three sixes, but they were left to rue top-order wickets as Phil Salt was caught at fine leg from the first ball of the chase, Jacob Bethell chipped to cover for seven and captain Harry Brook made a chaotic four-ball duck.

Earlier, Jofra Archer was replaced by Luke Wood in a late change, and the seamer removed Ryan Rickelton in the first over before captain Aiden Markram led the charge with 28 from 14 balls.

Dewald Brevis, who became the SA20's most expensive player in Tuesday's auction, made an entertaining 23 from 10 balls before he fell to the recalled Curran's first ball while Donovan Ferreira finished unbeaten with 25 from 11.

The three-match series continues at Old Trafford on Friday, where rain is also forecast.





BBC
 
Injuries mounting for South Africa ahead of WTC27 tilt

Some fresh injury problems for the Proteas ahead of their World Test Championship defence starting next month.

South Africa are battling a pair of fresh injury concerns just one month out from their first match in the new ICC World Test Championship cycle.

Key pacer Lungi Ngidi hurt his hamstring at a training session prior to the Proteas' T20I series against England, while experienced spinner Keshav Maharaj injured his groin during the warm-up for the opening match of that series.

The pair played a major role in helping South Africa to a first World Test Championship mace at Lord's in June and have little time to recover ahead of the side's opening fixture of the new cycle against Pakistan that commences in Lahore on October 12.

While the extent of Maharaj's groin problem is still to be determined, the Proteas confirmed Ngidi had strained his right hamstring and would return to South Africa immediately.

"Proteas Men’s fast bowler Lungi Ngidi has been ruled out of the T20 International (T20I) series against England with a right hamstring strain," South Africa said in a statement.

"He sustained the injury during training on Tuesday at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, and subsequent scans confirmed its extent.

"Ngidi will return home on Thursday.

"Nandre Burger has been named as his replacement and will join the squad ahead of the second T20I in Manchester."

The Proteas were successful in the rain-interrupted first T20I against England in Cardiff, with the remaining two matches in the series to be held in Manchester on Friday and Nottingham on Sunday.

ICC
 
'Shambles of a night' - Brook on rain-reduced T20

England captain Harry Brook described the rain-reduced T20 between England and South Africa in Cardiff as a "shambles of a night".

A delayed start until 20:50 BST saw the match reduced to nine overs a side and the tourists reached 97-5 after 7.5 overs before another downpour, which gave England a revised target of 69 from five.

The hosts fell short on 54-5 to go 1-0 down in the three-match series, though Brook felt there was nothing to glean from the contest.

"They got nine overs, we got five overs. You can't take much from it," said Brook.

"It was a bit of a shambles. It was a long, long day but I don't think we need to make any excuses up.

"We probably didn't execute as well as we should have done with bat and ball but it's hard when you only bat for five overs."

The original playing conditions stated there would be a 2.4 over powerplay and that four bowlers could bowl a maximum of two overs each and one bowler could bowl one, which curiously did not change once England's target was adjusted.

Earlier, England made a late change to their team to remove Jofra Archer from the XI considering the conditions, and he was replaced by Luke Wood who took 2-22.

"It would have been stupid to play him with the amount of cricket we've got coming up," Brook added.

"If he'd have gone out and done what Adam Hose did in The Hundred and broken his leg or whatever, that would have been a shambles."

Archer has been reintroduced to international cricket this summer with his first Test in four years and the hope that he will be fit for the winter's Ashes in Australia.

Brook would not be drawn on whether the game should have gone ahead, adding that it was simply "up to the umpires".

The series continues at Old Trafford on Friday, where there is also a mixed forecast.

BBC
 
Donovan Ferreira is an incredible power-hitter. I am surprised why South Africa haven't tried him in ODI yet. Not like he doesn't have the numbers in List A.

Not everyday you see a batsman with a List A SR of 130! and an average of 39 to go along with that. For me, they should be looking at him as the successor to David Miller, who I imagine will have his swansong at the next World Cup.
 
2nd T20I today.

South Africa won the toss and decided to field fart.

Complete carnage from England so far.

England - 88/0 (5 overs).
 
This is what will look like in T20 world cup 2026. These are not slogging or hacking. Just range hitting.
 
This is what will look like in T20 world cup 2026. These are not slogging or hacking. Just range hitting.

LOL. 2026 World Cup is in India and SL. Do you think before you post? :inti

You can't bat like this in SL.

England tried to bat like this in Mirpur. They lost 0-3.
 
Just look at the difference between these English batters and the pak line up.

The gap between the top teams and teams like pak, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka is just too big now
 
fastest T20I century against full member counties = David Miller (35 balls) against Bangaldesh

Salt can do it!
 
Just look at the difference between these English batters and the pak line up.

The gap between the top teams and teams like pak, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka is just too big now
When we talk about clean hitting Pakistan is not even the same stratosphere. Their idea is correct. THey can't come remotely close to hitting levels of these guys.
 
Highest runs in T20 innings against regular nations

Screenshot-2025-09-12-131543.jpg
 
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