- 6,068
- 3,447
- 189
When: South Africa v England, 1st T20I, February 12, 6.00 PM local
Where: Buffalo Park, East London
What to expect: The track at East London tends to be on the slower side and a score of around 170 could turn out to be a competitive total, batting first. It is expected to be a cloudy day.
Team News:
South Africa: The hosts could opt for JJ Smuts as one of the all-rounders, with Andile Phehlukwayo slotting in at number 7. Steyn, Lungi Ngidi and Hendcricks could form the pace attack with Shamsi as the spin option.
Squad: Quinton de Kock (c, wk), Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Jon-Jon Smuts, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dale Steyn, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi, Beuran Hendricks, Pite van Biljon, Dwaine Pretorius, Sisanda Magala, Bjorn Fortuin, Heinrich Klaasen
England: As noted, England have lots of options at the top of the order. So, Malan could be pushed to bat at the number 3 slot. Rashid and Moeen are expected to be the two main spinners.
Squad: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan (c), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Joe Denly, Sam Curran, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson
What they said:
"I love playing against these guys. I watched them now in the Tests and the ODIs and I can't wait to get out there. I haven't played against England for a long time. It's great to be in East London where it's not the fastest track in the world but it will do. Any time you are playing at the highest level against the world's best players, if you're not excited about that then I don't know what's going to get you excited," Steyn, on the prospect of playing against England.
"They should bowl him (Jofra Archer) into the ground so he doesn't play [a joke]! It boils down to man management and just having good conversations with him and seeing where he's at and what he wants to do. He's still learning and bowling enough that he is getting his body strong. The most important thing is that people want to see him on the park. You've got to keep him on the park and England have got to work out how to do that. Everyone is different. He's new in the system so it's going to take the odd injury here or there to work it out but they'll get there," Steyn on Archer's injury worries.
Squads:
England Squad: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan(c), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler(w), Moeen Ali, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson
South Africa Squad: Quinton de Kock(w/c), Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, JJ Smuts, David Miller, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dale Steyn, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi, Beuran Hendricks, Petrus van Biljon, Bjorn Fortuin
Where: Buffalo Park, East London
What to expect: The track at East London tends to be on the slower side and a score of around 170 could turn out to be a competitive total, batting first. It is expected to be a cloudy day.
Team News:
South Africa: The hosts could opt for JJ Smuts as one of the all-rounders, with Andile Phehlukwayo slotting in at number 7. Steyn, Lungi Ngidi and Hendcricks could form the pace attack with Shamsi as the spin option.
Squad: Quinton de Kock (c, wk), Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Jon-Jon Smuts, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dale Steyn, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi, Beuran Hendricks, Pite van Biljon, Dwaine Pretorius, Sisanda Magala, Bjorn Fortuin, Heinrich Klaasen
England: As noted, England have lots of options at the top of the order. So, Malan could be pushed to bat at the number 3 slot. Rashid and Moeen are expected to be the two main spinners.
Squad: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan (c), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Joe Denly, Sam Curran, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson
What they said:
"I love playing against these guys. I watched them now in the Tests and the ODIs and I can't wait to get out there. I haven't played against England for a long time. It's great to be in East London where it's not the fastest track in the world but it will do. Any time you are playing at the highest level against the world's best players, if you're not excited about that then I don't know what's going to get you excited," Steyn, on the prospect of playing against England.
"They should bowl him (Jofra Archer) into the ground so he doesn't play [a joke]! It boils down to man management and just having good conversations with him and seeing where he's at and what he wants to do. He's still learning and bowling enough that he is getting his body strong. The most important thing is that people want to see him on the park. You've got to keep him on the park and England have got to work out how to do that. Everyone is different. He's new in the system so it's going to take the odd injury here or there to work it out but they'll get there," Steyn on Archer's injury worries.
Squads:
England Squad: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan(c), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler(w), Moeen Ali, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson
South Africa Squad: Quinton de Kock(w/c), Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, JJ Smuts, David Miller, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dale Steyn, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi, Beuran Hendricks, Petrus van Biljon, Bjorn Fortuin
- 6,068
- 3,447
- 189
Whew, to sum up today's game: England do a New New Zealand which is to choke in a T20 game from a winning position. Only fair, they get the taste of some of their own medicine as their search for 'perfection' in the Hollywood format continues and the next stop is Kingsmead Durban on Friday. You know it's a special day and what better way to roll off the evening with a T20. Do remember to tune in for that, thanks for all the lovely comments and feedback. Until next one, it's a goodbye from Raju Peethala on behalf of Vineet Anantharaman, Rishi Roy and Shashikant Singh.