England and South Africa are set to close the horns in the initial ODI of the three -match series at Hadingley, Leeds on Tuesday (September 2).
Eng vs SA, 1 ODI: Match Preview
Enter the competition under the leadership of England Harry BrookWhich has quickly established himself as a trusted person. Adding their strength is the much awaited return of Joffra Archer, whose speed and aggression brings a new dimension to their bowling attack. Many English players are also in excellent touch after impressive outing in hundred, which gives the hosts a strong sense of speed.
On the other hand, South Africa comes with equal confidence. Captain Temba Bavuma He directed his team to win a 2–1 series against Australia, which proved to be their flexibility in pressure conditions. One of the world’s leading fast bowlers, the return of Cagiso Rabada further enhances his squad, which can play a decisive role in the ability series to quickly strike and control the overs of death.
Eng vs SA, 1 ODI: Pitch Report
The pitch in Headingley for a series opener between England and South Africa is taking shape as a balanced surface, which is likely to test both batsmen and bowlers in different stages of the match. With a mild cover of grass and early moisture, seamers will be in the game during the initial over. Expect good bounce and carrie, who should reward bowlers who maintain discipline with a new ball. Fast bowlers will aim to take advantage of the movement in the seam and air, making an important route of the game the first hour.
Once the shine fade, the batting is expected to be easier. The correct bounce in the headingley allows the traditionally stroke-makers to play independently, especially through the line, which means that run-scoring should be lifted in the middle overs continuously. Meanwhile, spinners can play only a supporting role. While some turns may occur on the offer later in the day, history suggests that spin has a limited effect here, their effectiveness is more tied to the creation of pressure than taking groups of wickets.
The toss will also be important. Captains often prefer to bowl first, expecting to maximize the initial seam movement before making the surface easier. If the batsmen can do new balls season, the stage can be set for a high scoring encounter.
Also read: England announced ODI and T20I Squad for South Africa series, Sunny Baker receives a maiden call-up
ODI data and records in Headingley
- Total Match: 48
- The matches batted first: 19
- The matches bowled first: 26
- Average first innings score: 228
- Average 2 innings score: 210
- The highest total record: 351/9 (50 OV) by England vs Pakistan
- The lowest total record: 93/10 (36.2 OV) by England vs Australia
- The highest score chase: 324/2 (37.3 OV) by Sri Lanka vs England
- The lowest score defense: 165/9 (60 OV) by England vs Pakistan
Also read: Kagiso Rabada, David Miller returns to South Africa’s name T20I and ODI Squads for England Tour