SOUTH AFRICA V ENGLAND T20I SERIES: TV channels, schedule, team news - All you need to know

The Cricketer runs down the who, what, where, when, why, which channel and how wet it wil be as the 50-over format returns

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What is it?

After the Test and one-day international series, South Africa and England do battle in three T20Is as attention turns to preparations for the World Cup.

What’s the schedule?

FIRST T20I: Buffalo Park, East London (Wednesday, February 12, 6pm local time, 4pm GMT)

SECOND T20I: Kingsmead, Durban (Friday, February 14, 6pm local time, 4pm GMT)

THIRD T20I: Supersport Park, Centurion (Sunday, February 16, 2:30pm local time, 12:30pm GMT)

What are England's chances?

For the second time on this tour England arrive into a new format off the back of a convincing win in Johannesburg. But Eoin Morgan will be keen to keep the accelerator pressed firmly to the floor after a timely return to form at The Wanderers which saw them square the ODI series.

In many ways, this is the business end of the tour for both sides. The T20 World Cup in Australia is only eight months away. And while The Proteas still have another 15 matches in the 20-over game to come, England only have nine. Time is running out to stake a claim for Australia.

Therefore, you can understand the concerns of the likes of Dawid Malan, who scored England's fastest T20 century in New Zealand but is worried that he cannot allow his displays to drop. He is not the only one in the firing line.

Joe Denly is much derided in this format and while he was key in the ODI series it remains to be seen if he can keep up with the pace of the game. His failure could end up being Joe Root's path back into the fold after he was dropped for the series. Though Tom Banton, another player with a watching brief for the series, will have something to say about that.

Unlike the matches against the Kiwis, England have their full artillery available. Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Mark Wood are back. Jofra Archer would have been too before a stress fracture of his elbow intervened.

While the upcoming World Cup campaign has not been as meticulously prepared for as the 50-over equivalent last year, Morgan has been at pains to stress how significant the opportunity to hold both white-ball titles at the same is for this group. They will have two opportunities to do so, but the tournament Down Under is surely their best.

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England's preparations for the World Cup in Australia continue

Who’s in and who’s out?

Buttler, Stokes, and Wood are back in the fold after missing the ODI series. Archer is absent with a stress fracture of his left elbow, while a back problem has seen Pat Brown withdrawn.

Saqib Mahmood has been called up as fast-bowling cover and there will be another chance for Matt Parkinson to prove himself at this level. Moeen Ali's international return continues while Malan has a chance to enhance his white-ball reputation having expressed his fear over being dropped.

England squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Chris Jordan, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Matt Parkinson, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood

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What about South Africa?

Back-to-back years with T20 World Cups could be the perfect tonic for this South Africa rebirth, with a group of players assembled capable of making a real impression on the format.

Faf du Plessis and Kagiso Rabada are missing but there is plenty of talent and experience at this level. They don't come more knowledgable than Dale Steyn, who is back after 10 months after his last international outing. He offers a layer of star quality to a squad with lots of talent, but his physical state remains a question.

Temba Bavuma gets the chance to try and convert his decent start in the 50-over game to the shorter format and there is a handful of seamers who all have the ability to stamp their mark on the squad.

But as ever, much of the onus will be on De Kock. Here is one of the best batsmen in T20 cricket but the captaincy and the gloves combined could yet be his undoing. South Africa do not yet have the solutions to this dilemma, but they cannot allow it to overly affect the form of one of their premier players.

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Much like the ODI series, he continues as white-ball skipper in the absence of Du Plessis whose post-Test sabbatical has been extended.

Meanwhile, uncapped pair Pite van Bilijon and Sisanda Magala are bidding to make their international bows. Junior Dala, George Linde, and Anrich Nortje miss out from the squad which took on India in September.

South Africa squad: Quinton de Kock (capt & wk), Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Pite van Biljon, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Jon-Jon Smuts, Beuran Hendricks, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi, Sisanda Magala, Bjorn Fortuin, Dale Steyn, Heinrich Klaasen.

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South Africa have again opted to rest Kagiso Rabada and Faf du Plessis

What will the weather be like?

Overcast conditions are expected for the first T20 in East London though there is a low percentage chance of rain, meaning a full game should be possible.

Conditions should brighten up for the second match in Durban with a clear day expected.

And another warm and sunny day is anticipated for the final match of the series at Centurion, which will ensure a full series is possible.

How can I follow it?

Sky Sports will conclude its coverage of the tour by showing all three T20s via Sky Sports Main Event (Sky 401, Virgin 501) and Sky Sports Cricket (Sky 404, Virgin 504). Footage can also be accessed by Now TV and Sky Go.

Likewise, SuperSport 2 will also be showing the matches in South Africa, as they have done throughout the tour.

In India, the three-match series is accessible on Sony Six. In Australia, tune in to Fox Cricket for live coverage or stream the matches via pay service Kayo.

For those without access to Sky Sports in the UK, live commentary will be available via Talksport 2.

What if I fancy a bet?

For the opening T20, England are 6/10 favourites to take a lead in the series, while South Africa are 13/10, according to Dafabet.

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