Sports Mole previews the first T20 between England and South Africa, including predictions, team news and form.
After losing the thrilling ODI series 2-1 to South Africa, England will be looking to right some wrongs when the shortest form of international cricket takes centre stage in Wednesday’s first battle.
All roads lead to Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, where the Three Lions have enjoyed playing in recent history. The hosts should be eager to start the series on a positive note, and not the way in which the ODI series started.
Match preview
Usually, losing an ODI series would be surrounded by despair and pessimism, but not after England’s performance in Sunday’s final match at Southampton.
The Three Lions obliterated South Africa after being put into bat, with young powerhouse Jacob Bethell notching up his maiden international century alongside a typically efficient ton from Joe Root.
That batting performance was equally matched by the bowlers, particularly Jofra Archer, who went through a blistering spell of four for 10 in just seven overs to bowl out the South Africans for a paltry 72, their second-lowest ODI total ever.
Consequently, England not only avoided a whitewash but also secured the biggest victory margin by runs in the history of ODI cricket with their 342-run win, which means that the home side have the momentum going into the first of three T20s.
Their record in T20s at Sophia Gardens is impressive, with six wins from eight outings hosted across the past decade at this venue, making them firm favourites to get off to a triumphant start.
It was a sheepish end to the series for South Africa, who started the tour by completely dominating the hosts, eliciting a wide range of emotions from their fans back home within the space of a week.
Lifting the trophy almost felt undeserved at the end of the game, considering the way in which they were taken apart by a clinical English performance. However, as Keshav Maharaj alluded to in his post-match interview, a series win against England is still a win.
Aiden Markram must now pick up the pieces from that defeat to inspire his troops for the trip to Cardiff. The skipper will ask his men to forget about that match and rather focus on the last T20 series on English soil, one that produced a 2-1 victory for the men in green and gold.
The Proteas just edge the head-to-head record with 13 victories to 12 from 26 battles, and the fact that they won in Cardiff by 58 runs on their previous visit will encourage the travelling party. However, their T20 form has taken a dip in recent months.
South Africa suffered a 2-1 defeat to Australia in August, and a much-changed team lost three of their five matches in a tri-series competition with New Zealand and Zimbabwe in July. With sights set on the T20 World Cup next year, grabbing a win against the hosts is much-needed.
Team News
England have their winter Ashes tour on the horizon and with that decided to rest some all-format players, including opening batsmen Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith.
Sam Curran was recalled from exile, fresh off helping the Oval Invincibles win a third straight Hundred title; the 27-year-old’s all round ability will come in handy here, especially his control with the ball towards the death.
Curran was player of the T20 World Cup in 2022, and he needs to rediscover that form to be part of Brenden McCullum’s conversation next year.
However, cricket fans around the world will be keeping an eye on Bethell, who is expected to bring an exciting temperament to the game. With an ODI hundred now behind his name and a quick-fire 58 last week, he is primed to make a major impact in this three-match series.
McCullum also alluded to his leadership skills in a recent interview, hinting that Bethell could skipper the team in the upcoming series, telling the media: “He is going to have the opportunity to lead the England side and that is an honour for him.”
Shukri Conrad decided to bring Keshav Maharaj back into the South African T20 fold, after the left-arm spinner put in cracking performances that earned him Player of the Series awards for the ODIs in Australia and England.
Maharaj grabbed his first limited overs five-for down under and the next day was ranked as the world’s best bowler; the spinner has learned to vary his pace and flight in shorter formats, which makes him an attacking bowling weapon for Markram.
On the batting front, Proteas fans will be elated with the return of David Miller to the T20 setup; after recently featuring for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred, the Pietermaritzburg-born batter will be keen to get his name in the hat for the T20 World Cup in 2026.
With an average of 42.30 and a strike rate of 103.68, Miller adds some steel to the Proteas’ middle-order – the big hitter also impressed in The Hundred, amassing 133 runs in five innings and smashing 14 sixes from the 71 balls that he faced.
England squad:Harry Brook (capt), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Luke Wood
South Africa squad:Aiden Markram (captain), Ryan Rickelton, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, David Miller, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Senuran Muthusamy, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka, Lizaad Williams, Lungi Ngidi
We say: England to win
England are likely to secure the win in the first T20, largely because of momentum.
That ODI annihilation of the Proteas should provide them with a shot of confidence and belief and with crucial players like Archer and Bethell starting to hit their stride, it is difficult to see a win for the visitors.
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