On Tuesday (21st January), the Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming home ODI series against England. Apart from adding five uncapped ODI players, the board has dropped Faf du Plessis and chosen a new ODI captain.
South Africa national cricket team hasn’t played an ODI since their disappointing journey in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. In that CWC 2019, Faf du Plessis-led Proteas team finished in the seventh position in the points table among the ten participants. They only won three matches while lost five games and the other one had no result.
Finally, in the new year (2020), South Africa will restart their ODI cricket with the upcoming three-match home series against England. Since the CWC 2019, it will be the first ODI assignment for both South Africa and England. The three matches will be played on 4th, 7th and 9th February 2020.
Faf du Plessis registered three 50+ scores in the last three ODIs
The selectors have dropped the last ODI captain Faf du Plessis from the upcoming ODI series. Although he scored 50+ runs in all the last three ODIs, including a century in the last ODI, Faf has been removed from the ODI side. While he is struggling with the form, the selectors have claimed that the forthcoming ODI series will be beginning of their journey towards the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Also, there is no clarification about Faf du Plessis’ future in ODI format.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock has been appointed as the captain of the South African ODI side. In August 2018, during the away ODI series against Sri Lanka, de Kock led the Proteas side for the first time. While he played two ODIs in that series as a captain, the South African team suffered defeats in both those matches.
In last September, during India tour, Quinton de Kock led the South African T20I side twice. His team won once and suffered one defeat in that series.
The five uncapped ODI players for the upcoming home ODI series are Lutho Sipamla, Kyle Verreynne, Sisanda Magala, Janneman Malan and Bjorn Fortuin. Among them, Sipamla (five T20Is), Malan (two T20Is) and Fortuin (two T20Is) have little experiences in international cricket.
South African ODI squad for the upcoming home series against England: Quinton de Kock (c), Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Jon Jon Smuts, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lutho Sipamla, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi, Sisanda Magala, Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Janneman Malan, Kyle Verreynne
Full ODI fixtures between South Africa and England
(Three-match ODI series)
4th February 2020: 1st ODI – Newlands Cricket Ground (Cape Town)
7th February 2020: 2nd ODI – Kingsmead Cricket Ground (Durban)
9th February 2020: 3rd ODI – Wanderers Stadium (Johannesburg)