First ODI Preview | South Africa vs England Series

The budget for flight tickets to the Zimbabwe World Cup Qualifiers was set aside the second CSA decided the SA20 would take precedence to an ODI series in Australia and today Bavuma clearly revealed that Zimbabwe is more of an unavoidable future. To make matters worse, South Africa has never beaten England at the Mangaung Oval. | ✍️ Ongama Gcwabe previews the 1st ODI.

ASLO READ: Bavuma still eager to lead the Proteas

On Friday afternoon, the Proteas will begin their weeklong quest to avoid having to play a World Cup qualifier series for the first time in the history of South African Cricket.

A dismal return in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League has seen South Africa drop to 11th place on the log standings, three spots down from the top eight that will enjoy direct ODI World Cup qualification.

A series loss in Sri Lanka and a loss at home to Bangladesh have dealt the Proteas a heavy blow and further highlighted the ever-so-vivid rough patch in South African cricket.

*Last updated on 11 January after Pakistan v New Zealand second ODI.*

Having drawn the series away from home against England last winter, the Proteas once again have the task to beat the kings of international white-ball cricket or risk being the first Proteas ODI team to play qualifiers.

The addition of the in-form Sisanda Magala and Marco Jansen improves South Africa’s chances, but the concerns over the batting still remain.

Janneman Malan, who’s had a fantastic first year of ODI cricket, has been struggling for form domestically in the shorter formats, while Temba Bavuma has once again been put under the microscope after missing out on a spot in South Africa’s lucrative SA20 competition.

On the other hand, England has a relatively new captain in Jos Buttler and also a new coach, but the same old aggressive blueprint will most certainly carry over into the series and the World Cup in India.

On paper, the English are way ahead of the Proteas and are expected to easily push South Africa further down and onto a plane to Zimbabwe where the World Cup qualifier series will be hosted.

The ODI series in Bloemfontein will most certainly dish out good batting and spin conditions but the rain over the past two days in the Free State might create conditions that bring the seamers into play with the new ball.

The two captains might lean towards fielding two permanent spin options with South Africa possibly going with the duo of Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi. Buttler is not short of options either as both Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid are in the England squad ready to fire.

According to locals in Bloem, how the wicket plays in the first innings in the afternoon will tend to do be exaggerated in the second innings under lights. If the wicket is flat, it will get even better for batting under lights which means the toss will be crucial.

On the evening of the first ODI match, skipper Bavuma mentioned that they could field one or two less familiar faces in the XI as they look to find a suitable method going into the World Cup.

ALSO READ: “We always go out to win” – Temba Bavuma | England Series

Does that mean Reeza Hendricks might get a chance ahead of a struggling Malan?

Or perhaps Heinrich Klaasen’s good form and positive nature will be enough to see him bat ahead of Rassie van der Dussen purely for experimental reasons?

The duo of Wayne Parnell and Jansen certainly looks to be the way forward for the future in ODI cricket but perhaps this series could be better used to field Jansen for exposure and building confidence ahead of the imminent Qualifier series.

Bavuma said himself that Zimbabwe is something that they see coming despite still having an opportunity to avoid it.

Here’s the writer’s Probable XI for the first ODI match.

South Africa Probable XI: