South Africa v England: Twenty20 Preview

England’s tour of South Africa kicks in to gear on Friday with the first of two Twenty20 internationals, at Johannesburg.

The tourists’ preparations had been going well with two big victories over the Eagles and the Warriors in 50-over matches. But they were brought back down to earth with a bang by a strong South African ‘A’ side on Tuesday – losing by four wickets in quick time.

Still, England will head into Friday’s match in good spirits after their surprisingly good showing at the Champions Trophy here in September and October, when they beat the hosts in the run-fest at Centurion.

The make-up of the Twenty20 side is perhaps the most interesting selection headache of the tour.

With Strauss unlikely to feature after claiming he was “not comfortable” with Twenty20 in April and Alastair Cook not nearly aggressive or inventive enough for the format, it remains to be seen who will partner Joe Denly at the top of the order.

Denly, the 23-year-old Kent batsman has already shown glimpses of his immense talent in his nine One Day Internationals to date. And, despite a first-ball duck in the abandoned Twenty20 against Australia, at Old Trafford, in the summer, he should be given an extended run in the shorter formats of the game.

Matt Prior and Luke Wright have both opened for England in Twenty20 but neither has looked comfortable with the role. A more likely option would be Jonathan Trott.

Having made a century on debut in the deciding Ashes Test this summer, Trott has been thrust into both squads for this tour. He has plenty of experience opening-up for Warwickshire and averages more than 40 for them in Twenty20.

The middle order – likely to be without Kevin Pietersen, who is still missing with a troublesome achilles – will consist of Wright and Prior, Eoin Morgan and Paul Collingwood.

Pietersen’s absence does leave England a batsman light and the tourists will need to think about options down the order in assembling their bowling attack.

Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad – who can comfortably bat at 8 and 9 – and Jimmy Anderson are shoe-ins. Tim Bresnan could get the nod, owing to his all-round ability, leaving one final spot.

It could be time for England to take the plunge and place some confidence in Adil Rashid. At just 21 years old, Rashid bowled with great heart and maturity at the World Twenty20 in June and impressed when given the chance in the one-dayers against Australia later in the summer.

He also showed his talent with the bat in making an unbeaten 31 – in spite of receiving a tirade of bouncers from Brett Lee – as England came desperately close to winning the first ODI of the Australia series. He has earned his chance and would add depth to the batting order.

South Africa will provide a stiff challenge, tougher than they did at the Champions Trophy, and England will have to be at their best to triumph in either game.

 

Probable England line-up: Denly, Trott, Prior, Collingwood, Morgan, Wright, Bresnan, Rashid, Broad, Swann, Anderson

Fixtures:

1st Twenty20 Friday, Nov 13, Johannesburg

2nd Twenty20 Sunday, Nov 15, Centurion

England Struggle in Final Warm-up

England’s final warm-up for their South African tour curtain-raiser on Friday ended with a hammering. The tourists – at near full-strength – were rolled over for just 89 in 17.3 overs of the Twenty20 match with a decent South Africa ‘A’ side.
Alastair Cook was the only batsman to pass 20, despite England fielding a strong batting line-up – Sajid Mahmood, who knows which end of the bat to hold, was last-man-in.
Graeme Swann and Adil Rashid picked up a couple of wickets each with the ball, but England eventually lost by four wickets.