 South Africa will play England in the second ODI at Centurion after the
first game was abandoned due to heavy rains. In fact, the rains had started even
during the first T20I that was played here between the two sides a week back and
hadn't shown many signs of relenting.
Effectively, this series is now reduced to a four match series. This would
mean that it would be a shorter, tightly contested, and a series in which the
teams can barely afford to relax.
Click for Live Score Card of South Africa vs EnglandEngland would go into the second game knowing that such a result augured well
for them given the number of players they have injured. Stuart Broad
and Graeme Swann had already been ruled out of the first couple of games, and
one wasn't too sure about either Paul Collingwood or Alastair Cook's fitness.
The two extra days would have given them a better chance of recovery for the
second game which will be played on Sunday.
The batting will continue to revolve around the smashing middle-order consisting
of the likes of Kevin Pietersen, Luke Wright and Jonathon Trott. However,
the headache that Strauss would have it to arrange them in the order that maximises
his returns for the team.
On the other hand, the bowling may comprise of Adil Rashid as the leading
spinner, but with James Tredwell acting as cover, and Rashid having being taken
for more than 20 runs in the only over he bowled during the T20Is, it remains
to be seen who will play.
For South Africa, Loots Bosman is still not a part of the ODIs despite
his strong show in the T20Is. Instead, Hashim Amla should open the innings
for the side with his captain Graeme Smith as Jacques Kallis would make
it to the number three slot. Smith had looked good in both the T20Is and will
look to carry his form on a pitch where he had earlier got to an 80 in the T20
game against England. Kallis, on the other hand, has not had a productive series
yet, but that has more to do with him not had a chance to do so!
The bowling will be led by Dale Steyn, but it does get interesting to predict
who will be the support cast. One is not yet sure about the Wayne Parnell injury,
whereas Albie Morkel continues to flounder as a bowler. Charl Langeveldt
should be a part of the game, and an important component to bowl in the slog
overs.
|
