03 February 2020, by: The Popping Crease

South Africa v England: First ODI Betting Preview

The South Africa v England Test series is done and dusted, now it’s time for the One-Day Internationals to take centre stage as the World champions look to make two series in two on African soil.

South Africa have chosen to go into the ODI series with a relatively inexperienced team, and have chosen to rest both Kagiso Rabada and Faf du Plessis, intending to build a team for the future.

Quinton de Kock has been named as the Proteas new ODI captain and after his success as captain in the T20 series in India late last year, this is a good move. Captaincy has given de Kock added responsibility in his game, as was demonstrated by his wonderful personal Test series with the bat against England.

Their opponents England, are the current World Champions and boast an electrifying squad with an abundance of experience and skill. This is a team that has been in the making for the past three or four years. They have built a team around individuals who know exactly what their role is.

England’s openers, Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow are capable of taking the game to another level in the opening overs , and they both found good form in the two warm-up games, both striking centuries.

Given the number of attacking batsmen, it will be difficult to keep England to a manageable target if bowling first, but the key for South Africa should be to strike early and regularly.

The World Cup in 2023 is already being talked about and planned for. Which players can be identified now that can spend the next three years learning and growing their game? These are the players that have been selected for this series.

The likes of Janneman Malan (23 years old), Kyle Verreynne (22 years old), Lutho Sipamla (21 years old) and Bjorn Fortuin (25 years old) are all incredibly talented cricketers. They all should be in the playing XI for the first ODI.

The results may not come now, but there is no substitute for experience. What South Africa can hope for is the development of a new generation of Proteas, one that can excel at the next World Cup.

Given the success that de Kock and Malan had in the second edition of the Mzansi Super League, it would be advantageous for the Proteas to open with this pair for the first ODI . The left/right-hand partnership is beneficial and sought after. The pair are both exciting stroke makers and can get South Africa off to a positive start in the first PowerPlay .

The opening bowlers for the Proteas will have a tough job on their hands, having to bowl to Roy and Bairstow. This responsibility must rest on Lungi Ngidi and Beuran Hendricks. Ngidi , having come back from a string of injuries has finally been passed fully fit and Hendricks has just come off his maiden Test five-for, so confidence should be high.

The first ODI is at the iconic Newlands Cricket ground and it’s set to be another hot and sunny day in the Mother City. South Africa have a good record here, having lost only one match here (India, 2018) out of their last six. Also, the team batting first has won eight of the last 11 ODIs at this venue. The average first innings score at Newlands over the last decade is 237 (average winning score: 299).

The last time South Africa and England played at Newlands, in 2016, South Africa won by five wickets, thanks to a 125 run partnership between Hashim Amla (59) & AB de Villiers (101*). With these two legends now retired, it’s time for a few more legends to announce themselves.

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