England vs South Africa ODI Series Tips
After a pulsating Test Series against India, the attention turns to the white ball and the return of the One Day Internationals, as England take on South Africa.
Having already beaten the West Indies 3-0 on home soil this summer, England will be looking to close out the season with a win against a South Africa side that hasn’t won an ODI tour on these shores since 1998.
Here we look at three tips for the series, which gets underway on 2nd September at Headingley.
Tip 1 – England to win the series 2-1 @ 6/5
South Africa have struggled in England in recent years with the white ball. The last series in 2022 was drawn 1-1, with the Proteas having to go back before the new millennium for a ODI series win in England.
England will be hoping to kick on from the win over the West Indies and put to bed what has ultimately been a poor ODI year.
Form has been lacking in the limited-overs format, but this is a squad full of exciting talent. Debutant bowler Sonny Baker will be eager to impress, while the explosive hitting of the likes of Harry Brook and Jos Buttler can get England over the line.
It won’t be easy going against a side that reached the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy back in March but a 2-1 series win on home soil looks decent value at 6/5.
Tip 2 – Ben Duckett to be top runscorer for England in 1st ODI @ 33/10
The talented Ben Duckett will be key to England’s chances of success – and he’s already made history at Headingley once this summer.
His unbeaten 149 in the First Test against India was the first fourth-innings century on this ground by an Englishman and was also the highest fourth-innings score against that opposition.
He averages 49 in ODIs and, despite England’s poor overall showing in the Champions Trophy, Duckett’s magnificent 165 against Australia was the highest ever score in the competition at the time. He was also the third-highest run scorer in the competition with 227, despite only playing three games.
He looks a solid shout at 33/10 to top the scoring charts for England in the opener.
Tip 3 – England opening partnership to be over 31.5 runs in 1st ODI @ 10/11
A good start can be crucial in a limited-overs game and the West Indies series saw the openers surpass 50 twice in three matches.
Jamie Smith and Duckett will open the batting for England at Headingley. With the latter’s average of 49, there is a strong chance of a good foundation.
Smith scored over 100 runs in the three games against the West Indies and the pair were record-breakers in the T20 international against the same opposition in June, putting on 120 in England’s highest ever home score in the format.
The 10/11 for the opening partnership to be over 31.5 at Headingley makes sense.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
