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Preview: England vs. South Africa first ODI - prediction and team news

Sports Mole previews the first one-day international between England and South Africa at Chester-le-Street, including predictions and team news.

England will be looking to give Ben Stokes the perfect send-off in his final one-day international match when they face South Africa at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday.

While England will be hoping to clinch victory for the all-rounder, South Africa will be looking to spoil the retirement party.


Match preview

Ben Stokes during an England nets session on July 31, 2019© Reuters

After losing both the T20 international and ODI series to India, Jos Buttler will be looking to secure his first series win as captain.

Although Buttler will be desperate to beat South Africa in the three-match series, the focus at Chester-le-Street will be on England's Test captain.

Stokes announced on Monday that Tuesday's game would be his final outing in an ODI, with the 31-year-old looking to manage his workload.

After playing a match-winning role in England's World Cup final win over New Zealand in 2019, the curtain will come down on Stokes's ODI career at his home ground on Tuesday.

Although the focus will be on Stokes, England will be desperate to bounce back after losing the final match of their ODI series against India on Sunday.

Following 2-1 defeats to India in both the T20 and ODI series, Buttler will be desperate to clinch his first series victory as captain against South Africa.

South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen in action on February 16, 2020© Reuters

While England are looking to give Stokes a fitting send-off, South Africa will be aiming to get off to a winning start in the ODI series.

The Proteas arrive in England to contest three ODI's before playing three T20 internationals and a Test-match series.

After winning just one of their last five ODI series, South Africa will be desperate to get the better of England over the next three games.

They have already played two 50-over series this year, which resulted in a 3-0 win at home to India before losing 2-1 in a home series against Bangladesh.

South Africa went into the final game level on terms against Bangladesh in March, but they ultimately suffered a disappointing nine-wicket defeat.

After losing their last 50-over series, South Africa will be looking to bounce back by claiming their first-ever bilateral ODI series victory in England.


Team News

England batsman Jos Buttler celebrates scoring a half-century against India on July 17, 2022.© Reuters

Stokes will be hoping that he can depart the international 50-over game with a positive performance, and the 31-year-old will have the chance to star with the bat and ball.

With no player able to score more than 100 runs across the three ODIs against India, England will be looking for an improvement from their batting lineup against South Africa.

Reece Topley will have a key role to play with the ball after finishing the series against India as the highest wicket-taker, which included a six-wicket haul in the second ODI.

Adil Rashid missed both white-ball series with India to make the Hajj pilgrimage to the Mecca, but the leg-spinner has returned to take his place in the squad for the games against South Africa.

South Africa's Quinton de Kock celebrates his century on February 4, 2020© Reuters

Keshav Maharaj will captain South Africa in the absence of Temba Bavuma, who is ruled out of the tour due to an elbow injury.

The batting lineup will be opened by Janneman Malan and Quinton de Kock, while Rassie van der Dussen could play a pivotal role in the middle order after top scoring for his country in the ODI series against Bangladesh.

Kagiso Rabada has been rested for the three 50-over games, which will leave South Africa looking towards Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje to lead their seam attack.

While Maharaj will provide left-arm off-spin, Tabraiz Shamsi will offer a left-arm unorthodox option if he is included in the lineup for the first ODI.

England squad: Jos Buttler (Captain, wk), Moeen Ali, Jonathan Bairstow, Brydon Carse, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Craig Overton, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Phil Salt, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey.

India squad: Keshav Maharaj (Captain), Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Janneman Malan, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phelukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Lizaad Williams, Khaya Zondo, Kyle Verreynne.


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We say: England win

Despite losing the ODI series to India, the hosts will be determined to give Stokes the perfect send-off, and although it could be a close game, we expect England to clinch victory for the all-rounder.

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Written by
Ben Sully

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