England has to play with
South Africa in the 3rd NatWest International T20 of the Three match series at Edgbaston, Birmingham on 12th September 2012,
England are somehow still in this series against
South Africa. But for a final deluge that forced Monday’s abandonment at Old Trafford, the scores may have been level at 1-1 ahead of this final match tomorrow. The English still seem to be struggling for continuity and solidity within the team and didn’t really look like making a comeback, even in the washed out second T20. Now a win for them can only restore pride, as the Proteas sit 1-0 up in the series with one to play. They will not drop a series in any format on this tour, which can only constitute a success. Wednesday’s match is the final chance for both teams to fine-tune their performance, line-up and strategies before the start of the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka next week and so both sides will be eager to come out of this series unscathed.
England: England made a much-anticipated change in personnel on Monday night when the selector’s brought in Luke Wright for the hopelessly out of form Ravi Bopara. Despite the truncated nature of the game, the home side looked a stronger unit as a result, with Wright making useful contributions with bat and ball. The Sussex all-rounder has been in superb form for his county, scoring successive hundreds in the CB40 league, and his impact alone could give England a better chance of drawing the series. Although there were problems regarding his team mate’s reaction to this brash nature, there is no doubt that when out in the middle, the English order relies on him to build around, even in the shortest format of the game. It is also worth noting that among this uncertainty stands Stuart Broad, the T20 captain. Considering his on-again/off-again form and the seeming lack of cohesion in the England camp, it begs the question of whether they are even leading with the right man at the helm.
South Africa: South Africans also made a logical change to their line up as Hashim Amla came in to replace Faf Du Plessis who has also struggled for runs on this tour. Amla had been rested for the first match last week but once again top scored for his side after being dropped by England yet again this time by the usually reliable Eoin Morgan. Amla just reinforces a powerful batting line-up that includes Jacques Kallis, JP Duminy and AB De Villiers. There is also the threat of the explosive Richard Levi who has yet to find his own best form in this series. Levi, Albie Morkel and AB De Villiers provide the fire power, as can JP Duminy. Ontong has proved he can clear the ropes with regularity and then there are the all rounders of Botha and Petersen, which also add the spin options. Morkel and Steyn round off the team, world class pace bowlers with Kallis and Albie Morkel as the back-up seamers. Ontong and Duminy can also bowl part-time off-spin.
Venue: The final game will be hosted at Edgbaston, and Birmingham is also known for it’s rainy climate and washed out games this summer, much the same as Manchester. Neither of these teams have played an international T20 at the ground, and so it will be fresh territory for both. With a 40% chance of evening showers, it could be that their wait will have to continue.
Teams for South Africa vs England 3rd T20:
England Squad: SCJ Broad*, JM Anderson, JM Bairstow, RS Bopara, TT Bresnan, DR Briggs, JC Buttler, JW Dernbach, ST Finn, AD Hales, C Kieswetter†, MJ Lumb, EJG Morgan, SR Patel, GP Swann, LJ Wright
South Africa Squad: AB de Villiers*†, HM Amla, F Behardien, J Botha, JP Duminy, F du Plessis, JH Kallis, RE Levi, JA Morkel, M Morkel, JL Ontong, WD Parnell, RJ Peterson, DW Steyn, LL Tsotsobe
England has to play with South Africa in the 3rd NatWest International T20 of the Three match series at Edgbaston, Birmingham on 12th September 2012,
England are somehow still in this series against
South Africa. But for a final deluge that forced Monday’s abandonment at Old Trafford, the scores may have been level at 1-1 ahead of this final match tomorrow. The English still seem to be struggling for continuity and solidity within the team and didn’t really look like making a comeback, even in the washed out second T20. Now a win for them can only restore pride, as the Proteas sit 1-0 up in the series with one to play. They will not drop a series in any format on this tour, which can only constitute a success. Wednesday’s match is the final chance for both teams to fine-tune their performance, line-up and strategies before the start of the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka next week and so both sides will be eager to come out of this series unscathed.
England: England made a much-anticipated change in personnel on Monday night when the selector’s brought in Luke Wright for the hopelessly out of form Ravi Bopara. Despite the truncated nature of the game, the home side looked a stronger unit as a result, with Wright making useful contributions with bat and ball. The Sussex all-rounder has been in superb form for his county, scoring successive hundreds in the CB40 league, and his impact alone could give England a better chance of drawing the series. Although there were problems regarding his team mate’s reaction to this brash nature, there is no doubt that when out in the middle, the English order relies on him to build around, even in the shortest format of the game. It is also worth noting that among this uncertainty stands Stuart Broad, the T20 captain. Considering his on-again/off-again form and the seeming lack of cohesion in the England camp, it begs the question of whether they are even leading with the right man at the helm.
South Africa: South Africans also made a logical change to their line up as Hashim Amla came in to replace Faf Du Plessis who has also struggled for runs on this tour. Amla had been rested for the first match last week but once again top scored for his side after being dropped by England yet again this time by the usually reliable Eoin Morgan. Amla just reinforces a powerful batting line-up that includes Jacques Kallis, JP Duminy and AB De Villiers. There is also the threat of the explosive Richard Levi who has yet to find his own best form in this series. Levi, Albie Morkel and AB De Villiers provide the fire power, as can JP Duminy. Ontong has proved he can clear the ropes with regularity and then there are the all rounders of Botha and Petersen, which also add the spin options. Morkel and Steyn round off the team, world class pace bowlers with Kallis and Albie Morkel as the back-up seamers. Ontong and Duminy can also bowl part-time off-spin.
Venue: The final game will be hosted at Edgbaston, and Birmingham is also known for it’s rainy climate and washed out games this summer, much the same as Manchester. Neither of these teams have played an international T20 at the ground, and so it will be fresh territory for both. With a 40% chance of evening showers, it could be that their wait will have to continue.
Teams for South Africa vs England 3rd T20:
England Squad: SCJ Broad*, JM Anderson, JM Bairstow, RS Bopara, TT Bresnan, DR Briggs, JC Buttler, JW Dernbach, ST Finn, AD Hales, C Kieswetter†, MJ Lumb, EJG Morgan, SR Patel, GP Swann, LJ Wright
South Africa Squad: AB de Villiers*†, HM Amla, F Behardien, J Botha, JP Duminy, F du Plessis, JH Kallis, RE Levi, JA Morkel, M Morkel, JL Ontong, WD Parnell, RJ Peterson, DW Steyn, LL Tsotsobe
