ENG vs SA: Live Streaming, Match Preview, Timings, Pitch Report and more for 1st T20I

In a period of sheer inactivity for the South Africans, England have played West Indies, Ireland, Pakistan, and Australia across different formats.

Published - 27 Nov 2020, 14:19 IST | Updated - 27 Nov 2020, 14:19 IST

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The last time England and South Africa locked horns with each other, the world was an entirely different place. Their limited-overs engagement in February was a precursor to the T20 World Cup, which had everything been fine in the world, would have been over by now. Though as it stands, the pandemic has pushed it to another year.

Ever since the world has been enveloped in lockdowns and bubbles, South Africa and their cricketers have been divorced from cricket, and there would be a fair bit of rust for them to get rid of when they meet England at Cape Town on Friday. Their opponents, however, have been well-oiled and have been the talisman for the cricketing fraternity as they brought the sport back to life back in July.

In this period of sheer inactivity for the South Africans, England has played West Indies, Ireland, Pakistan, and Australia across different formats, and not to mention a few players’ presence in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) too. While cricket in South Africa has highly inactive, the saga around their cricketing board and management has been volcanically active.

The times have been doubly catastrophic for CSA, and the turmoil has not come to a halt yet. It was only a few months ago that their entire board resigned, and an interim board was imposed on the cricketing body by the Government of South Africa. The government intervention in the apex body’s management led to breaches of ICC’s constitution to such extent that the latter had to take cognizance and threaten (or perhaps warn) the nation about losing their status as a cricket playing nation!

CSA’s denial to recognize the government-formed interim board led the Sports Minister of the nation to threaten to derecognize the apex body CSA itself! Phew! Amidst the tripartite saga between CSA, Government South Africa, and the ICC, the CSA has also made the worst mess of the Black Lives Matter movement. For now, not all has settled, but the cricketers, who are coming after an unusually long patch of inactivity, would want to make the best out of the series against smooth-sailing England.

Pitch and conditions

A fairly balanced track, equally assistive for both batsmen and bowlers is expected. Cape Town, much like most of the tracks in South Africa, is known for offering a fair bit of bounce and swing off the surface, and the presence of some remarkable pacers on both sides only make the prospects interesting for tomorrow’s clash.

Playing combinations for Eng vs SA

South Africa

South Africa has quite a few decisions to make as far as their team balance is concerned. Janneman Malan is expected to partner Quinton de Kock in the opening slot, who both will be followed by Faf du Plessis, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klassen, and David Miller in the middle order. Dwayne Pretorious’ exclusion due to injury means that Andile Phehlukwayo will pick himself alongside the three-pronged pace attack comprising Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, and Lungi Ngidi.

Probable XI: Janneman Malan, Quinton de Kock (C & WK), Faf du Plessis, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klassen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

Bench: Temba Bavuma, Reeza Hendricks, George Linde, JJ Smuts, Pite van Biljon, Kyle Verreynne, Junior Dala, Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Keshav Maharaj, Lutho Sipamla, Glenton Stuurman

England

Unlike their opponents, England need not worry too much about the team combination. What they should, however, worry about is the role of the opener. For now, Jason Roy would be the ideal choice alongside Jos Buttler, but given Ben Stokes and Sam Curran’s opening stint this year during IPL, and Dawid Malan earlier this year, Roy must be cautious about performing to secure his spot.

The three will be followed by Jonny Bairstow, Eoin Morgan, and Ben Stokes in the middle-order, whereas Adil Rashid will be on his spin duties. Given Cape Town’s track’s nature, England might want to play four seamers.

Probable XI: Jason Roy, Jos Buttler (WK), Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Eoin Morgan, Ben Stokes, Adil Rashid, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood.

Bench: Reece Topley, Sam Billings, Sam Curran, Moeen Ali