ENG vs SA : England and South Africa are set to face off in the opening T20I of the three-match series at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. While South Africa clinched the preceding ODI series, England ended on a high with a record 342-run victory in the final match.
ENG vs SA : England have confirmed their playing XI, with Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith rested, paving the way for a fresh opening pair of Phil Salt and Jos Buttler. All-rounder Sam Curran returns to action, playing his first game for England since Brendon McCullum took charge of the Test side.
For South Africa, David Miller misses out due to a hamstring injury, with Donovan Ferreira expected to step in. Marco Jansen also makes a comeback to the squad, featuring for the first time since the World Test Championship Final.
Cardiff Pitch Report
With a busy summer of cricket behind it, the Sophia Gardens surface is anticipated to be flat but slightly worn. The venue’s highest score is 207, while the biggest successful chase was 194 by England against Australia. The toss-winning team is likely to opt for bowling first.
T20I Numbers at Cardiff
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Matches played: 11
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Wins batting first: 3
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Wins bowling first: 8
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Average first-innings score: 150
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Highest total: 207 (SA vs ENG)
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Highest chase: 194 (ENG vs AUS)
England Squad: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (c), Sam Curran, Tom Banton, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood, Saqib Mahmood, Brydon Carse, Jamie Smith, Rehan Ahmed
South Africa Squad: Aiden Markram (c), Ryan Rickelton (wk), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Lizaad Williams, Kagiso Rabada, Senuran Muthusamy