England look to arrest slump as South Africa chase series sweep

England came out on the wrong side of a thriller at Lord's a couple of days ago but the defeat signalled further implications for the English ODI side who have flattered to deceive since the ICC ODI World Cup in 2023. They have a sole bilateral series win since the mega event two years ago, and a poor win % of 31.8, only Bangladesh and Zimbabwe have a lower win % in this time period. The drop in results has also seen England slip to No.8 in the ICC ODI Rankings. The resulting uproar of these poor performances has also seen talks of The Hundred being subject to abject criticism with the first ODI played merely two days after the final.

England were much better with the bat in the big chase of 331 at Lord's. They showed more application and were more decisive in their shot selection. Fifties from Joe Root, Jacob Bethell - who's stocks continue to rise in international cricket - and Jos Buttler had England in the game until the latter was cleaned up. Concerns exist on the bowling front too with only two bowlers amongst the wickets in the second ODI. The 10 overs that were bowled by two part-time spinners was also a weakness well exploited by the South Africans who scored 112 runs. England have plenty of questions beginning to form and a consolation win in the series could be the start to finding out the required answers.

South Africa, on the other hand, would have liked to have won more comfortably at Lord's but having secured their first bilateral series win in England after 27 years, they will now be eyeing a whitewash. Matthew Breetzke has dominated the South African headlines - becoming the first ever player to score five 50s in his first five ODI appearances but the likes of Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs and Aiden Markram have punched above their weight too.

Starts have not been hard to come by for the South Africans with six players going past 30 at Lord's but the silver lining for them would be if they can kick on from their 50s to a 100.

Meanwhile, the bowlers too have backed each other up consistently with Keshav Maharaj leading the pack with six wickets in the series while Nandre Burger is on four wickets and is followed by Wiaan Mulder who is just behind on three wickets with his only appearance coming in Leeds.

When: September 7, 2025; 11am Local Time (12pm SAT, 10am GMT, 3.30pm IST)

Where: Rose Bowl, Southampton

What to expect: The last ODI played at Southampton was in 2023 when England beat New Zealand by 79 runs. There is a slight chance of rain with the forecast experts predicting it to be 25% on matchday.

Team News

England

Sonny Baker, who endured a tough start to his ODI career in Leeds, could come in for Brydon Carse. England also need to address their fifth bowling option which would probably see the inclusion of Rehan Ahmed for Will Jacks, with the young legspinner also packing a punch with the bat.

Probable XI: Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (capt), Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks/ Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse/ Sonny Baker, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood

South Africa

Wiaan Mulder missed Thursday's game through illness. A kidney stone was suspected, but he has since been cleared of that painful fate. If Mulder is fit, he should come back at the expense of Senuran Muthusamy. Lungi Ngidi has played in nine of South Africa's last 11 games, and is probably due a break. That could create an opportunity for Kwena Maphaka.

Probable XI: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Temba Bavuma (capt), Matthew Breetzke, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Wiaan Mulder, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, Kwena Maphaka.

What they said:

"Hopefully I'll get a hundred in Southampton. I was bleak not to get it [at Lord's], because it would have been cool to be on the board. But we won, so happy days." - the in-form Matthew Breetzke, who scored 85 at the home of English cricket on Thursday, sets his sights on a century.