England focused on the Ashes, South Africa on the T20 World Cup

by Telford Vice • Last updated on

After losing the ODI series 2-1, England now face South Africa in a three-match T20I series © Getty

England have won three of their last five bilateral men's T20I series. South Africa? Only one of their last 10. But the last time these teams met, in England in July 2022, South Africa prevailed 2-1.

The latter means little, because things have changed so much. Only five of England's squad of 14 from then are involved this time, and just six of South Africa's 17.

The home side were captained by Jos Buttler, the visitors by David Miller. Names like Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Jason Roy, Chris Jordan, Moeen Ali, Quinton de Kock, Heinrich Klaasen, Rilee Rossouw, Andile Phehlukwayo, Anrich Nortje, Wayne Parnell and Tabraiz Shamsi were in the mix. They are not now.

It was almost two years before England's bid to retain the T20 World Cup title they won in Australia in November 2022 was halted by India in their semifinal in Guyana. And nearly two years before South Africa went where they had never been before, in either white-ball code, by reaching the final of that tournament - where the Indians pipped them by seven runs.

The next edition of the T20 World Cup will be played in Sri Lanka and India in February and March next year, when England and South Africa will look to improve on their previous performances.

This rubber, which starts at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Wednesday, moves to Old Trafford in Manchester on Friday, and concludes at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Sunday. Depending on what happens next February and March, and given the span of the series, it might yet be billed as five days that shook the world. Or, for the pernickety, five days that shook the 2026 men's T20 World Cup.

The series scoreline in the first paragraph says England are closer to doing that than South Africa. But, of their last 10 T20Is, both teams have won five. That suggests we should have a close affair on our hands.

Unless, of course, the side who win on Friday are also successful on Wednesday. In that case, all bets would be off for the unedifying spectacle of Sunday's dead rubber. That was the sad fate of the third ODI at the Rose Bowl in Southampton this past Sunday, when centuries by Joe Root and Jacob Bethell and Jofra Archer's 4/18 meant little because South Africa had won the first two matches.

England's most recent T20I foray was their 3-0 win over West Indies at home in June. Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett and Buttler scored from 60 to 96, but Duckett has been rested. Luke Wood and Liam Dawson had the best economy rates - 7.00 and 8.08 - and are in the squad.

The South Africans went down 2-1 in Australia last month. Dewald Brevis hammered a scintillating 125 not out off 56 in the second game in Darwin, and followed that with 53 off 26 in Cairns. The apparently fearless Kwena Maphaka took nine wickets at an economy rate of 10.27 and Corbin Bosch claimed six at 9.00.

Maybe the biggest difference between the teams is that the South Africans will be firmly focused on winning the series as they prepare for the coming World Cup, while England seem to have already locked their minds on the Ashes, which starts in Perth in November.

When: September 10 and 12, 2025; 6.30pm Local Time (7.30pm SAT, 5.30pm GMT, 11pm IST)

Where: Sophia Garden, Cardiff and Old Trafford, Manchester

What to expect:Two hundred has been reached only once in men's T20Is at Sophia Gardens, in July 2022 - by South Africa, who put up 207/3 against England. The home side have won six of their nine T20Is at Old Trafford. Showers have been forecast for Cardiff on Wednesday afternoon and evening, and for Manchester on Friday afternoon.

Team news:

England:

Despite being picked in the original squad Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett have been rested for the series. Sam Curran will play his first international during Brendon McCullum's tenure as coach. Phil Salt returns from the paternity leave that kept him out of the Windies series in June.

Confirmed XI:

Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (capt), Sam Curran, Tom Banton, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid.

South Africa:

David Miller, who last played for South Africa in the Champions Trophy in March, was back from The Hundred and back in the squad - until he was ruled out on Tuesday by a hamstring strain. That could open a door for Donovan Ferreira. Marco Jansen, who hasn't played any cricket since injuring a thumb in the WTC final in June, is indeed back. Albie Morkel has come on board as a bowling consultant for the series.

Possible XI:

Aiden Markram (capt), Ryan Rickelton, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Donovan Ferreira, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi.

What they said:

"He's a proper cricketer, hence we've taken our time with him to make sure that we give him every chance to be in the biggest series of all of our lives." - Brendon McCullum, talking about Jofra Archer on Sunday, lets slip that England are already fixated on the Ashes.

"That's the goal, to repeat [reaching the T20 World Cup final] and take it a step further. We're having a look at the personnel we feel can contribute to us lifting a trophy and getting those smaller combinations and pairings right." - Aiden Markram's eyes are fixed on the T20 World Cup prize.

© Cricbuzz

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