England vs South Africa – 1st One-Day International Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is England vs South Africa taking place? Tuesday, July 19th, 2022 – 13:00 (UK)
Where is England vs South Africa taking place? Seat Unique Riverside, Chester-le-Street
What is the expected weather for England vs South Africa? 27-34c with bright sunshine and a moderate breeze
What channel is England vs South Africa on? The match will be televised in the UK live on Sky Sports
Where can I stream England vs South Africa? Subscribers of Sky Sports based in the UK will be able to stream this match live on the Sky Go app.
LAST MEETING
England beat South Africa by two wickets.
THE TEAM NEWS
ENGLAND
- England Test captain and World Cup winner Ben Stokes broke the news on Monday that this ODI against South Africa on his home ground in Durham will be his final one before he retires from the format, citing the unsustainability of playing Test, ODI and T20 cricket on his body.
- Stokes’ Durham and England Test teammate Matt Potts is set to make his ODI debut and big things will be expected of him with the ball on a pitch that he will know better than anywhere else.
- Having released Phil Salt, Matt Parkinson and Harry Brook to their counties for T20 Blast Finals Day, all three are not expected to feature in this third ODI which takes place the following day, meaning that England will likely name an unchanged side.
SOUTH AFRICA
- South Africa’s preparation for this multi-format tour of England has been fairly low key and they come into this first ODI following a couple of fixtures against the England Lions, which saw them win in Worcester, but lose at Taunton although that match was not afforded List A status.
- The biggest worry for the Proteas is the status of wicketkeeper-batter Quinton De Kock, who missed both fixtures against the Lions due to a finger injury whilst white-ball captain Temba Bavuma misses not only this match, but the entire tour of England through an elbow injury.
- Spin-bowler Keshav Maharaj will captain South Africa across the ODI series in Bavuma’s absence, but he will have to make do without paceman Kagiso Rabada who has been rested for the ODIs.
THE PREDICTION
A scorching hot day is set to greet both sets of players out in Durham, which doesn’t bode well for both the bowlers and fielders. This three-match series will not form part of the ODI Super League and South Africa choosing to rest Rabada says it all in terms of where their priorities lie across the tour. The Proteas being without one of their best bowlers doesn’t bode well for them against a strong England unit, who will all be desperate to send Stokes off on a winning note in-front of his home crowd. Back them to do just that and triumph comfortably in Durham.
