Match Preview – South Africa vs England, England in South Africa 2022/23, third ODI

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Massive image: South Africa aiming for sequence sweep

The sequence has been gained, but it surely’s not fairly mission achieved for South Africa, who’re a win away from getting up into the highest eight of the World Cup Tremendous League. Two medical performances in opposition to the reigning world champions (albeit England’s crown has slipped a good bit not too long ago) means they’re sitting somewhat extra comfortably, with a pair of dwelling fixtures in opposition to Netherlands to return, however these are fantastic margins and one thing as small as an over-rate penalty may very well be the distinction between securing a direct spot for India later this yr or going to the qualifier in Zimbabwe.

Studies of South Africa’s demise, on this format at the very least, have turned out to be exaggerated – they whitewashed India 3-0 at dwelling this time final yr, in any case. However with Temba Bavuma producing a bravura hundred to encourage a document chase in Bloemfontein, it would even be the case that dwelling supporters begin trying ahead to the go to of West Indies in just a few weeks, fairly than pining for the return of the SA20.

South Africa’s boxfresh new T20 competitors will begin up once more on Thursday, and there have already been hints that the likes of Quinton de Kock and Kagiso Rabada may very well be rested forward of flying right down to the coast for a night contest between Durban’s Tremendous Giants and MI Cape City. However the temper within the camp, below the non permanent steering of Shukri Conrad, actually appears to have lifted and there’s the possibility to inflict a uncommon 3-0 reverse on Jos Buttler’s facet.

At the least, you would possibly peg it as uncommon, earlier than a fast verify confirms England misplaced their final ODI sequence, a benighted little bit of scheduling post-T20 World Cup in Australia, 3-0 as effectively. Their document since Buttler was put in as Eoin Morgan’s everlasting successor final yr presently reads: P11 W2 L8. Even when outwardly the mantra stays constructive, and there’s time aplenty to formulate plans for the World Cup defence in October-November, it is onerous to think about an occasion when a win was extra wanted for the reason that Morgan revolution started in 2015.

Buttler appears as unflappable as his predecessor and barely must hassle marshalling a defence. The Australia sequence will get a free move, because it got here days after the captain was being snapped on a Melbourne beachfront holding the T20 World Cup. Right here he’s with out the likes of Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone and Mark Wooden – partially due to damage, partially due to a schedule which means England presently have full males’s squads in each South Africa and New Zealand. To not point out Ben Stokes, the king over the water whose unretirement bandwagon is already gathering tempo.

He can even level to the truth that an England facet with somewhat extra constant ODI cricket below their belts would have anticipated to win each video games in Bloemfontein. Kimberley is mining nation, the “Massive Gap” one of many native vacationer sights – however England have time to dig themselves out of issue but.

Kind information

South Africa WWLLW (final 5 accomplished ODIs, most up-to-date first)
England: LLLLL

Within the highlight: Aiden Markram and Moeen Ali

Since making his ODI debut in October 2017, Aiden Markram has performed 45 ODIs whereas averaging 28.75 – the one different top-four batter to attain 1000 runs in that point at a decrease common is the now-retired William Porterfield. Markram’s nickname is “Sauce”, apparently as a result of he goes with the whole lot, and there have been glimpses of his undoubted expertise in a 43-ball 49 within the second ODI, throughout which he additionally burgled the wicket of Harry Brook. However time is working out to show he is obtained the particular sauce throughout all three codecs for South Africa.

You would possibly assume that Moeen Ali scoring a dashing half-century, at higher than a run a ball, is not so noteworthy. However the truth that his belligerent effort in Bloem was his first 50-plus rating in an ODI since 2017 is altogether extra discombobulating. Moeen has at all times been a participant whose particular person moments of brilliance transcend his rather-more-ordinary stats – however batting and bowling averages of 23.13 (strike fee 80.32) and 59.33 for the reason that 2019 World Cup are underwhelming even by his requirements. He needs to be a lock for No. 6 or 7 within the workforce that goes to India, however a run of kind on this format could be well timed.

Crew information: De Kock more likely to miss out

De Kock damage his hand whereas maintaining through the second ODI and stays “below medical remark”; he appears set to take a seat this one out, with Janneman Malan and Reeza Hendricks – the one two South Africa gamers to internet on Tuesday – ready within the wings as back-up openers. Not one of the frontline quicks, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi, bowled at coaching and South Africa might deploy each spinners, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi, relying on circumstances.

South Africa: (potential) 1 Janneman Malan/Reeza Hendricks, 2 Temba Bavuma (capt), Rassie van der Dussen, 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 6 David Miller, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Wayne Parnell, 9 Sisanda Magala, 10 Keshav Maharaj, 11 Tabraiz Shamsi

England have Phil Salt out there after sickness in the event that they wish to make modifications to the batting and can doubtless shuffle the bowling assault. Jofra Archer might make his second look of the sequence, having taken 1 for 81 on his long-awaited England comeback final week – and regardless of being a possible starter for MI Cape City 24 hours later. Chris Woakes and Reece Topley each endured a pasting within the second ODI, whereas Olly Stone was England’s finest bowler however could also be in line for some workload administration.

England: (potential) 1 Jason Roy, 2 Phil Salt, 3 Dawid Malan, 4 Harry Brook, 5 Jos Buttler (capt & wk), 6 Moeen Ali, 7 Sam Curran, 8 Chris Woakes, 9 David Willey, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Jofra Archer

Pitch and circumstances: Kimberley set to be scorching and flat

Kimberley has not hosted an ODI since 2018, when Zimbabwe managed simply 117 in opposition to an assault spearheaded by Rabada and Ngidi. However a flat floor is predicted for this contest and hovering temperatures plus a brief boundary suggests one other spherical of 300-plus run-scoring may very well be within the offing.

Stats and trivia

  • The final time England misplaced 5 ODIs in a row got here at dwelling throughout sequence in opposition to Sri Lanka and India in 2014. They haven’t misplaced six on the bounce since 2009.
  • South Africa are aiming for his or her first ODI sequence whitewash in opposition to England.
  • England have solely performed one earlier ODI in Kimberley – an eight-wicket win over Zimbabwe in 2000.
  • Wayne Parnell wants two wickets to succeed in 100 in ODIs. He would be the thirteenth South Africa to succeed in the milestone.

Quotes

“We’re right here to win, we wish to win the sequence 3-0. It is actually essential to be placing the appropriate individuals on the park however our squad is extremely sturdy, we’re at all times producing nice cricketers in South Africa. Whoever does play I’ve little question that we will have a full-strength workforce. To be good and medical could be the cherry on prime.”
David Miller says the hosts are intent on securing a whitewash

“We have not performed our biggest cricket. We have not had the all-round efficiency that we wish however there’s some positives to take ahead. Hopefully we will win the ultimate sport and end the sequence on a constructive word.”
Olly Stone makes an attempt to rallly the troops

Alan Gardner is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo. @alanroderick

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