Published: May 23, 2017, 03:11 PM (IST)
Edited: May 23, 2017, 08:42 PM (IST)
England and South Africa play each other just before the start of the all-important ICC Champions Trophy 2017 in a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series. This is first of second part of South Africa’s tour of England. The second leg of the series will take place post the marquee event, playing 4 Tests and 3 T20Is. In other words, South Africa will enjoy the entire English summer. However, the ODI series would help South Africa get accustomed to the conditions ahead of the Champions Trophy. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD, England vs South Africa – 1st ODI
From the past
England are coming off a 2-0 whitewash over Ireland in the recently concluded ODI series. South Africa, on the other hand, played hard-fought 5-ODI series with New Zealand that went in favour of them by a margin of 3-2.
Coming into the series, both sides have players who featured in Indian Premier League (2017), a domestic tournament as gruelling and competitive as it is at the highest level.
Both sides have played 22 ODIs against each other in England, with hosts winning 13 and losing a mere 7 while 2 contests ended in no result. The first ODI will take place at Headingley, Leeds. England have a terrific win:loss ratio at Leeds — 18:10. Head-to-head record all stands in favour of the home side, winning both their ODIs against South Africa at Leeds.
Game plan
England will play under Eoin Morgan, who has escalated the side to stardom in the ODI arena in the past 2 years, while South Africa will have their talismanic AB de Villiers leading charge. Under his wings, Morgan will have Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jason Roy, Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler — men who have impressively risen to their best in the shorter formats.
Stokes, Woakes and Buttler arrive from a sensational IPL season and will be eager to carry their form for the home side as well. Root surprised everyone with his off-spinners against Ireland and will, without much doubt, be a trump card. Fresh from an injury return, Mark Wood’s show was splendid against Ireland. Root will form a deadly duo with Adil Rashid, their highest wicket-taker of the series. David Willy and Moeen Ali will need to up their game after underperforming in his last few series.
England have a young and inexperienced pace attack in Jake Ball, Wood, and Liam Plunkett who will only find this outing accommodating going ahead.
England likely XI: Alex Hales, Jason Roy, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (c), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett
Speaking of their opponents, South Africa in their warm-up matches trampled over Sussex and Northamptonshire. Faf Du Plessis, who played only 2 IPL matches for Rising Pune Supergiant, struck a valiant 50 against Northamptonshire. In addition, South Africa will be happy with the form of Wayne Parnell and Chris Morris who shined with the bat.
Morris left Northamptonshire flummoxed, picking 3 wickets while Morne and Morkel, Imran Tahir chipped in with 2 each.
Tahir, for apparent reasons, will feature in the playing XI given his stunning run in the IPL, where he bamboozled batsmen at will. With Keshav Maharaj in the side, it will be an interesting toss-up either to go for the more-renowned bowler or the new entrant all-rounder.
Quite interestingly South Africa did not field de Villiers in any of the warm-up matches, which makes one wonder how match-ready he is.
South Africa likely XI: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wk), Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (c), Jean-Paul Duminy, David Miller, Chris Morris, Imran Tahir, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell
Overview
More than anything this series will act as a perfect opportunity for both sides to take note of their strengths and weaknesses heading into Champions Trophy. England look the more favourable side to win, but the No.1 ranked side South Africa are no pushovers as well.
This series could very well be decided on which team absorbs pressure the best, which sadly for South Africa has been their Achilles heel.
England squad: Eoin Morgan(c), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
South Africa squad: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wk), Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers(c), Jean-Paul Duminy, David Miller, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj, Farhaan Behardien, Morne Morkel
TIME: (14:00 local | 13:00 GMT | 18:30 IST)
