Last Updated on 4 years by Charbel Coorey

SA vs ENG 1st ODI 2020 Preview Possible 11 Pitch Report | SA vs ENG 1st ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | South Africa vs England 1st ODI Key Players | Boland Park Paarl Pitch Report

After a COVID-19 scare which saw the first ODI called off on Friday, the action will take place at Boland Park in Paarl, in what promises to be an interesting contest.

Change of format, change of fortunes for South Africa? The Proteas, with just one series win in five attempts across formats this year, are after that winning feeling; a feeling which eluded them in the recent T20I series against England.

The source of hope for the Proteas is two fold. Firstly, they beat England convincingly in the first ODI earlier this year, with Quinton de Kock starring with a century in a seven-wicket victory. Secondly, they have won four of five completed ODIs in 2020, with their last assignment being an excellent 3-0 series victory over a full-strength Australia side. So, with South Africa’s team balance in focus, especially in the absence of Faf du Plessis and Kagiso Rabada, it will be interesting to see which team combination the Proteas go with, and whether these players can build on the promising showings from earlier in the year.

However, no matter the team combination, it will be a tough ask to overcome England. England’s incredible rise over the past five years is underpinned by incredible batting depth, which was on show in the T20Is. The likes of Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Eoin Morgan and Jason Roy were in the syllabus, but world number one T20I batsman Dawid Malan showed up in the exam. In a great testament to England’s depth, Malan is unlikely to feature in their ODI side, with the small matter of Joe Root, who is set to play his 150th ODI with an average of over 50, to slot in at number three.

However, England will be keen for an improved showing with the ball compared to the T20Is. In the earlier ODI series against Australia, England often found success in the powerplay and middle overs, which is a template to follow here against a South African side that needs its top order to perform. So, who will step up in the absence of Jofra Archer, who is rested? Can Chris Woakes continue his fantastic run of consistent form in recent years, backed by the sheer pace and wily spin of Mark Wood and Adil Rashid respectively?

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

• Quinton de Kock has an outstanding record in ODIs against England. In fact, only Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and Graeme Smith have more runs for South Africa against England than de Kock’s 718, and none of them average anywhere near QdK’s 65.27.
• In fact, de Kock hit an century against England earlier in 2020.
• England welcome back Joe Root in the white-ball fold. The classy right-hander has an excellent record against South Africa (594 runs, avg. 49.50). Also, Root is just 36 runs away from 6,000 in ODIs.
• Only one other England player has more than 6,000 runs, and that is Eoin Morgan. Morgan currently has the second-most runs for England against South Africa (behind Root), with 574 at an average of 35.87 and SR 93.18.
• Do South Africa go with David Miller? If yes, they will be picking a player with a superb record against England. In fact, Miller has only been dismissed once in four innings vs England, with a total of 207 runs at a strike rate of 125.45.
• Also, South Africa have the option of picking Heinrich Klaasen, who was outstanding in the ODIs against Australia earlier this year. Klaasen made scores of 123*, 51 and 68* in that series. His 123* came at Paarl, and has scored a fifty and century in two ODI knocks on this ground.
• Sam Billings has been superb in ODI run chases in 2020: 67* (54), 46* (61) and 118 (110).
• Jonny Bairstow performed brilliantly in the first T20I on this tour (86* off 48 balls). However, can Bairstow overcome what is a modest ODI record against South Africa so far? (5 inns, 142 runs, avg. 28.40, SR 84.52)
• Rassie van der Dussen has never been dismissed in ODIs at Cape Town (3 inns, 116 runs). He hit an unbeaten 38* against England on this ground earlier this year. Also, van der Dussen smashed 74* (32) in the third T20I on this ground.
• Jos Buttler has a strike rate of 129.16 in nine ODI knocks against the Proteas (248 runs, avg. 35.42). One to watch, as always, particularly at the backend of the innings with Kagiso Rabada out with an injury.
• Adil Rashid will be key in the middle overs against a South African team that possesses inexperience. He has taken 12 wickets in seven ODIs so far this year, and will be out to improve on his bowling average of 40 in 11 ODIs vs South Africa.
• Chris Woakes took six wickets in three ODIs against Australia recently. Also, he made scores of 10, 26 and 53* with the bat, highlighting his all-round ability. Also, Woakes has averaged under 30 with the ball in ODIs in each of the last four years (20.63 in 2017, 26.63 in 2018, 29.79 in 2019 and 27.71 in 2020). He has taken a total of 77 wickets in 49 matches in this period.
• Lungi Ngidi has been in the wickets in ODIs and T20Is. In fact, his most recent ODI performances, against Australia, were superb: 3/30 and 6/58.

Stats and Facts

• South Africa have won four of five completed ODIs in 2020. England have won just 50% of their completed ODIs this year (four from eight).
• Chris Woakes is one wicket away from becoming the sixth England bowler to take 150 wickets in ODIs.
• The head-to-head record between the sides is close, with South Africa leading 30-28.
• South Africa restricted England to 258/8 on this ground earlier this year, and then chased it with ease courtesy of de Kock’s 107 and Temba Bavuma’s 98.
• Jason Roy is struggling for form. In addition to his low scores in the T20Is, Roy could only manage 24, 0, 1, 3, 21 and 0 against Ireland and Australia in the ODIs during the England summer. Also, Roy has a poor record vs South Africa in ODIs: 11 inns, 216 runs, avg. 19.63.
• South Africa has only lost one out of seven ODIs at Boland Park, Paarl (1-wicket loss to New Zealand in 2013).

Possible Playing 11

Some decisions for South Africa. Does Heinrich Klaasen play, or do they persist with David Miller? Also, who replaces Kagiso Rabada, and which spin attack do they go with? George Linde was super impressive in the T20Is, so he could get a run.

South Africa: 1. Quinton de Kock (c & wk), 2. Janneman Malan, 3. Jon-Jon Smuts, 4. Rassie van der Dussen, 5. Kyle Verreynne, 6. David Miller/Heinrich Klaasen, 7. Andile Phehlukwayo/George Linde, 8. Junior Dala/Keshav Maharaj, 9. Lungi Ngidi, 10. Anrich Nortje, 11. Tabraiz Shamsi

Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes and Sam Curran are all rested for England.

England: 1. Jason Roy, 2. Jonny Bairstow, 3. Joe Root, 4. Eoin Morgan (c), 5. Jos Buttler (wk), 6. Sam Billings, 7. Moeen Ali/Tom Curran, 8. Chris Woakes, 9. Adil Rashid, 10. Mark Wood, 11. Olly Stone

Boland Park Paarl Pitch Report and Weather

The surface at Paarl was on the slow side in the T20I back on November 29. Similar can be expected again.

Earlier this year, South Africa beat Australia convincingly by 74 runs after Henrich Klaasen’s 123* drove South Africa to 291/7. A score in that region could be tough to chase.

A warm and mostly sunny day is forecast, with a top of approximately 32 degrees.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Match Prediction

South Africa will fancy their chances given their performances in ODIs earlier this year. However, England look more settled even with key players rested, and one feels that will count for plenty. England to win.

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