South Africa, England
South Africa vs England (Image Credit: Twitter)

South Africa and England will begin their contest in the three-match ODI series on Sunday (6th December) at Boland Park (Paarl).

This ODI series will be a part of the inaugural ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League. While the hosts South Africa will begin their journey in this Super League during this match, it will England’s first away series in this Super League, who have already played two home ODI series in this contest.

Though this opening match of this series was originally scheduled on Friday (4th December) at Cape Town, it was postponed and rescheduled on Sunday after one South African player was found COVID-19 positive.

South Africa vs England, 1st ODI: Match Preview

South Africa

South Africa, England, Match Preview, Match Prediction, South Africa vs England
Image Credit: Twitter

The South African ODI squad is very much inexperienced. Moreover, the right-arm pacer Kagiso Rabada and former captain Faf du Plessis late exclusion from the squad due to fitness issues have opened up the more inexperienced image of this team.

Captain Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen are the most crucial names in the present ODI batting line-up.

Janneman Malan impressed during his first ODI series, which was against Australia at home in last February-March, where Heinrich Klaasen won the Player of the Series award for scoring 123*, 51 and 68* respectively.

Andile Phehlukwayo and David Miller, both will have to prove in the fitness test before the beginning of this ODI series.

Apart from Andile Phehlukwayo, they have the pacers like Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Junior Dala along with uncapped Glenton Stuurman. The Proteas also have four spinners as Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, Jon- Jon Smuts and George Linde.

Though they were in good form in ODIs at home before the beginning of the pandemic, as they won 4 out of 6 home ODIs in this year (1 loss and 1 no result), including levelling the home ODI series against England (1-1) and winning the home ODI series against Australia (by 3-0), it is a new restart process for them which is not an easy task for this inexperienced team.

Full Squad

Quinton de Kock (C), Temba Bavuma, Junior Dala, Beuran Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Janneman Malan, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lutho Sipamla, Jon- Jon Smuts, Glenton Stuurman, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne

Recent ODI form (Oldest to latest): No Result, Lost, Won, Won and Won

England

South Africa, England, Match Preview, Match Prediction, South Africa vs England
Image Credits: Twitter

The latest World Cup winners and top-ranked ODI side, England will start this ODI series with high confidence as they just won the three-match T20I series in this tour by the 3-0 margin.

Eoin Morgan-led this English side is strong enough in the ODI format. They have the powerful batting line-up that helps them to comfortably chase any big total. In the latest available ODI squad in this tour, they also have the disciplined bowlers like Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Tom Curran and Adil Rashid.

However, the English ODI side’s major issue is their inconsistent team performances, which they have to prove wrong in this tour.

Full Squad

Eoin Morgan (C), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler (wk), Tom Curran, Lewis Gregory, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Olly Stone, Reece Topley, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

Recent T20I form (Oldest to latest): Won, Lost, Lost, Won and Lost

South Africa vs England, 1st ODI: Match Prediction

South Africa, England, Match Preview, Match Prediction, South Africa vs England
Image Credits: Getty Images

The visitors England are the very strong side and they will begin this series with higher confidence due to beginning this tour by completing whitewash in the T20I series. So, the inexperienced and unsettled South African team will face very difficulties to beat the latest World Cup winners in this series.