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England and South Africa clash at Headingley on Tuesday in the opening match of their three-game ODI series, with both teams carrying contrasting momentum into this encounter.
England enter this series under the fresh leadership of Harry Brook, who has made an impressive start to his captaincy. The 26-year-old Yorkshire batter recently led England to a comprehensive 3-0 whitewash of the West Indies in both ODI and T20I formats. Brook’s captaincy debut was marked by England’s massive 400-run total at Edgbaston, resulting in a crushing 238-run victory. The hosts will be playing their first ODI since that West Indies series in May-June 2025.
South Africa arrive in England brimming with confidence after securing a 2-1 ODI series victory against Australia. Despite suffering a record 276-run defeat in the final match, the Proteas had already clinched the series with wins in the first two encounters. Keshav Maharaj was named player of the series for his six wickets across the matches.
This series carries significant historical weight – England seek their first bilateral ODI series victory against South Africa since 2017. Meanwhile, the Proteas aim to end a 27-year drought of ODI series wins on English soil, having last triumphed in 1998.
ENG vs SA, 1st ODI: Match Details
- Date and Time: September 2; 05:30 pm IST/ 12:00 pm GMT/ 01:00 pm local
- Venue: Headingley, Leeds
ENG vs SA: Head-to-Head Record in ODIs
Total matches: 71 | England won: 30 | South Africa won: 35 | Ties/No result: 6
Headingley Pitch Report
The Headingley surface is traditionally batting-friendly, offering consistent bounce and pace that rewards top-order strokeplay. Historically, the average first-innings ODI total here is around 277, reflecting its runs-on-offer nature. Early on, lingering morning moisture and typical Leeds humidity (65–80%) can aid swing and seam movement, making the new ball period crucial for bowlers. As the game progresses, the pitch tends to flatten out, suiting spinners like Adil Rashid and Keshav Maharaj in the middle overs.
ENG vs SA, 1st ODI: Playing XI of both teams
England: Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Sonny Baker
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Lungi Ngidi, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Wiaan Mulder, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger
Also READ: ENG vs SA 2025, 1st ODI: Headingley Stats and Records
ENG vs SA, 1st ODI: Today’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- England wins the toss and bats first
- England powerplay score: 70-80
- England total score: 310-320
Case 2:
- South Africa wins the toss and bats first
- South Africa powerplay score: 80-90
- South Africa total score: 340-350
Match result: South Africa to win the contest.
Also READ: Kagiso Rabada, David Miller return as South Africa name T20I and ODI squads for England tour
