England are Favourites

Given that the Proteas haven’t played international cricket since March, England will go into the T20 and ODI series as overwhelming favourites, writes Alasdair Fraser.

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In the T20 arena, South Africa and England will be up there with the leading sides tipped to go far in the T20 World Cup in India and they’ll be keen to gain momentum and confidence ahead of it.

The Proteas will need their IPL stars to continue where they left off and seek the consistency lacking in the past few years due to a number of experienced stalwarts retiring.

It’s been a transition phase but the young talent coming through has been promising, and with the damage that Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje can do, South Africa will be a dark horse at the 2021 showpiece.

Between 2018 and 2019, the Proteas won four T20 series in a row, followed by a drawn series away to India in September last year. Since then, they have lost their last two series to England and Australia at home.

Poor chasing of achievable totals was what let themselves down against England, and in the latter series against the Aussies, the Proteas batting was poor with team totals of 89 and 96 in the first and third T20s. If De Kock doesn’t get going at the top of the order, England will fancy a repeat of last season.

However, the Proteas bowling attack was outstanding throughout those two T20 series. With the likes of Rabada, Nortje and Ngidi steaming in, England will need to be on top of their batting game. They are full of destructive hitters, with captain Eoin Morgan always delivering, but Dawid Malan will be the Proteas’ main target.

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But the main reason England will be favourites is that they have played a lot more international cricket since July and have spent more time isolating as a team than the Proteas. Rabada alluded to the psychological aspect during a live chat, where he spoke of the similarities of being imprisoned.

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For England, the isolation is much easier to stomach. They are on tour and far away from family. For the Proteas, the main challenge will be the fact they cannot see family, friends and loved ones while sitting locked away in their hotels – some of them, mere kms away from their family.

For the fans, though, this is the perfect remedy for the lack of live sport being played due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And it’s a welcome distraction from the ongoing soap opera in the boardroom, but more importantly for the players, the T20 World Cup prep begins now.

Seeing the Proteas once again resume a centuries-old rivalry with England will somewhat soothe the pandemic pain. And although the stands in Newlands and Paarl will be empty, the Proteas will feel the support and passion of millions watching around the world.