South Africa vs England, 2020 ODI series: 5 Things to watch out for

After a relatively one-sided Test series that saw England demolishing the hosts South Africa, now it’s the turn of the ODI format to take center-stage. The reigning World Champions will be making their first appearance in the 50-over version of the game since winning its biggest trophy in July last year.

South Africa, on the other hand, is as troubled in this format as they are in Tests. Their performance in the World Cup was extremely poor. Now, they are looking to rebuild and luckily, they have plenty of great talent to work with, both in the batting and bowling department.

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This series would be much more important than the average ODI contest. It pits two teams which are at opposing ends of the success charts, against each other. This series will tell us whether England, having achieved that one goal for which they single-mindedly strove for since the 2015 World Cup, can continue to perform at the highest level.

It will also tell us how much of a recovery, mental as much as anything else, South Africa has made since the World Cup debacle.

Now, let us zoom in and look at the five specific things that fans should look out for in this series.

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#5 A slew of youngsters in the Proteas squad

Beuran Hendricks gets a great opportunity

Whenever a team starts rebuilding after a World Cup campaign, they bring in a lot of youngsters. The South African selectors have decided to do the same thing. There are plenty of new names in the squad.

Who among these players would be able to shine and prove themselves worthy of this opportunity? That will be the big question. Bjorn Fortuin, Janneman Malan, Lutho Sipamla, JJ Smuts, Kyle Verreynne are the new faces in the team. Alongside them, other players are better known but still less tested, like Beuran Hendricks and Temba Bavuma.

The selectors will desperately want some of these players to step up and prove their worthiness in ODI cricket. Both and cricket lovers, in general, would keep their eyes peeled to see whether amidst these new names lies the next great South African cricketer.

We don’t know for sure how many of these players will get enough chances to succeed. Some of them are bound to be given a rough deal as there are just three matches. But often the talent of a player can be spotted in the most minute of performances. Let’s see which players will whet our appetite to see more of them in the future.

#4 De Kock’s captaincy

De Kock's captaincy would be under the scanner

South Africa has decided that a new start requires a new captain. Quinton de Kock has been an outstanding player for his team and has shown good form in recent times. But how will he perform as a captain?

This will be a major theme of the series – assessment of De Kock’s captaincy. If he succeeds, not just in terms of results but in the strategic and tactical aspects of the game, he may replace Faf du Plessis as the full-time captain of the ODI team, even when, if at all, he returns to the team.

So far, De Kock has thrived as a free-flowing opening batsman. But there have been occasions when he has played measured innings according to the situation of the team. This suggests that he has a good cricketing brain. But whether he can thrive as a captain will be, at least in some measure, known by the end of the series.

Du Plessis’ future is uncertain. His performances have dipped and the team isn’t doing badly. What De Kock may do, at the least, is bring a fresh new perspective to the team, one that is devoid of the worries of the past. That in itself would be a big change. Let’s see how well he performs as a leader.

#3 Search for Tahir and Amla’s successors

In Tahir's absence, Shamsi becomes the lead spinner for SA

Two very important players for South Africa said goodbye to international cricket after the World Cup – Imran Tahir and Hashim Amla. Now, their former team is searching for their replacements. This series would be an audition for those who aspire to take up their spots in the playing XI.

At the moment, Amla’s replacement seems easier to find. In normal circumstances, it would have been Aiden Markram. But with him injured, the position would likely be taken by Reeza Hendricks. He too is a highly talented player who scored a hundred on debut against Sri Lanka in 2018.

But his position isn’t all that secure as the back-up opener with Janneman Malan being brought into the squad. If he fails in the first two ODIs, Hendricks may well have to make way for the new kid on the block.

As far as the spin department is concerned, the current succession model has Tabraiz Shamsi taking over from Tahir. But here too, the selectors have given themselves options by bringing in Bjorn Fortuin – a left arm spinner.

So, both Shamsi and Fortuin may get an opportunity. If either or both succeed, it would be a huge relief for the African team. Otherwise, the selectors would have a huge headache finding a reliable tweaker in the white-ball formats.

#2 England’s search for their best new ball attack

Tom Curran has a great opportunity to cement his place in the ODI team

The English selectors have made an unsentimental and long-sighted decision to drop Liam Plunkett. This tall bowler was a key part of their ODI team in the lead up to and in the World Cup. He picked up three wickets in the World Cup final also.

While at 34, he has a few more years left in him, the selectors have decided to let him and focus on players who could play the next World Cup. So, now, England’s search for their best combination of seamers in ODI cricket restarts.

Jofra Archer is the first name that will be jotted down in that list. But he is out with injury at the moment. So, who will emerge as the three or four best seamers for the English ODI side now? Both the Currans – Sam and Tom – are in the team and both have good qualities that recommend them.

Then there is Chris Woakes who has been one of the unsung heroes of England’s success. Chris Jordan has been brought back into the team after time out in the wilderness. His selection may have been made with an eye on the World T20 – he did well in the 2016 edition. Then, there is the untested Saqib Mahmood.

Woakes is certain to start for England but who would be the other two seamers, or possibly the other three, is a difficult question to answer. This will also be a big theme of the series.

#1 Time for Lungi Ngidi to stand up and lead

In Rabada's absence, Ngidi will have to lead the attack

Lungi Ngidi made his international debut just over two years ago. He has seen both highs and lows as a cricketer. Now, he finds himself as the unofficial leader of the South African bowling attack. With Kagiso Rabada rested for this series, Ngidi becomes the main man in the line-up.

Though Andile Phehlukwayo is the senior bowler in terms of his experience, the fact that Ngidi is a more threatening bowler with his pace and height makes him the most important member of the line-up.

So far, Ngidi hasn’t made as much of an impact in ODIs as he has done in Tests. But with Dale Steyn no longer around, he will have to become Kagiso Rabada’s main bowling partner for the sake of his team.

He can look for some support from Beuran Hendricks who is a talented bowler and got some wickets in his debut Test some days ago. Also, the selectors have picked two uncapped seamers who will get a chance. But Lungi will have to show that he can shoulder the responsibility of leading the attack. His performance too would be under the scanner.