South Africa’s white-ball squads are about to enter the second half of one of the more challenging itineraries in recent years with the first of three one-day internationals against England on Tuesday, just six days after arriving from northern Queensland in Australia.
The majority of the players in England started their journey from Mackay at 6am last Monday before flying to Brisbane and onwards to either Sydney or Perth depending on which group they were in.
The Sydney fliers had a refuelling stop enroute to London while the Perth contingent had the ‘privilege’ of experiencing one of the longest commercial flights in the world to Heathrow, a mere 17 hours in the air.
Not that any of them will be complaining when the first one-day international starts at Headingley in Leeds on Tuesday when they will have the opportunity to build on the momentum of a fifth consecutive series win against Australia (2-1) achieved in Cairns and Mackay before floundering to a record 276-run defeat in the final game when collective attention might have been understandably focussed on the 28-hour journey the following day.
Among the key personnel changes between the two legs are the return of David Miller to the T20 squad – he was not considered for the Australia leg, having been granted permission to play in England’s Hundred competition before the tour was announced – and Keshav Maharaj who was “disappointed” to have been omitted. Both have the opportunity to reaffirm their importance in the shortest format ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
But the ODI series precedes the T20s and both teams, like all of the major nations, are short of game time in the 50-over format. For many players the series offers an opportunity to ‘rediscover’ the rhythm and tempo required amidst the abundance of T20 cricket.
The 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia may seem like a long way ahead, but time moves quickly and resounding individual performances might go a long way towards a place in the final squad.
Matthew Breetzke’s record-breaking start in the format with scores of 150, 83, 88 and 57 in his first four matches might make him a ‘banker’ at No 4 – but what about Dewald Brevis whom coach Shukri Conrad said “has made the No 4 spot his own” in the T20 format after his national record 125* in Australia. And Tristan Stubbs, and Miller? There is an abundance of middle order riches.
Donovan Ferreira’s pyrotechnic form in The Hundred has given him another chance to re-establish his national credentials in T20 cricket while yorker specialist, Lizaad Williams, is fighting his way back after a long injury break.
The return of Marco Jansen also casts a light on the once depleted allrounder stocks but is there a place for Wiaan Mulder and Corbin Bosch? Senuran Muthsamy is pushing Maharaj hard for the spinner’s berth – could both play, as they did in Australia?
Full houses at some of England’s finest venues will provide a test of temperament as much as skill – the difference in temperature between northern Australia and England in September might also provide a challenge.
As will an exceptionally strong England squad under the captaincy of Harry Brook who will, of course, still have the unique skills of his predecessor, Jos Buttler, one of the greatest limited overs batsmen.
ENGLAND ODI SQUAD:
Jos Buttler (wkt), Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Joe Root, Harry Brook (captain), Jacon Bethell, Jamie Smith, Tom Banton, Jamie Overton, Rehan Ahmed, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood, Sonny Baker.
SOUTH AFRICA ODI SQUAD:
Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton (wkt), Temba Bavuma (captain), Tony De Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Matthew Breetzke, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Nandre Burger, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi.
ENGLAND T20I SQUAD:
Jos Buttler, Ben Duckett, Phil Salt, Will Jacks, Harry Brook (captain), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Liam Dawson, Rehan Ahmed, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood, Luke Wood.
SOUTH AFRICA T20I SQUAD:
Aiden Markram (captain), Ryan Rickelton, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, David Miller, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Senuran Muthusamy, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka, Lizaad Williams, Lungi Ngidi.
FIXTURES:
SEPTEMBER:
2 – 1st ODI, Headingley, Leeds
4 – 2nd ODI, Lord’s, London
7 – 3rd ODI, Rosebowl, Southampton
10 – 1st T20I – Cardiff
12 – 2nd T20I – Old Trafford, Manchester
14 – 3rd T20I – Trent Bridge, Nottingham.