South Africa v England, T20I series: All you need to know

The Cricketer runs down the who, what, where, when, why, how much, which channel and how wet will it be for he three-match T20I series between South Africa and England

What is it?

A three-match T20I series between South Africa and England.

When is it?

The first match of the series takes place on November 27, followed by subsequent games on November 29 and December 1. The first and third games begin at 4pm GMT, while the second starts at 12.30pm GMT. 

Where is it?

The first and third fixtures will be played at Newlands, Cape Town. The second T20I will take place at Boland Park, Paarl.

Who’s involved?

South Africa’s build-up to the T20I series has been complicated by two positive coronavirus tests, which has led to four players among a 24-man squad self-isolating. Intra-squad warmup games scheduled for Saturday and Monday were both cancelled, while Mark Boucher’s side are training in two separate groups as they attempt to minimise any risk of transmission.

Glenton Stuurman’s maiden international call-up was the most notable piece of news when the squad was first named. He is joined, among others, by Anrich Nortje, who will play his first cricket since a breakthrough Indian Premier League campaign, in which he delivered the competition’s quickest-ever delivery.

England’s preparations have been less eventful, meanwhile. Fresh from a summer of bio-secure bubble cricket, Eoin Morgan’s side have grown used to what is required from them during this unique period. Morgan leads a 15-man squad, with England at something like full strength in T20I cricket for the first time since the 2016 World T20.

Morgan and head coach Chris Silverwood face a dilemma over how to order a packed batting line-up: Jos Buttler, Jason Roy, Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes could all feasibly open the innings, though it seems likely – from the evidence of their intra-squad games – that Roy and Buttler will open up, with Malan at No.3 and Bairstow at No.4.

^{England have warmed up with intra-squad fixtures}

South Africa squad: Quinton De Kock (c), Temba Bavuma, Junior Dala, Faf du Plessis, Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Janneman Malan, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lutho Sipamla, JJ Smuts, Glenton Stuurman, Pite van Biljon, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne

England squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, Mark Wood

How can I follow it?

The series will be available to watch in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports. TalkSPORT have the radio rights.

In South Africa, SuperSport will broadcast the games. Star India have acquired the rights to the series in India, while Willow TV will show the matches in North America.

How’s the weather looking?

At this stage, the outlook is dry for the three-match series.

Gift a subscription to The Cricketer this Christmas and choose your free gift (a £20 John Lewis gift card or copy of Bob Willis: A Cricketer & A Gentleman). Subscribe here

Subscribe to The Cricketer for exclusive content every day: The inside track on everything England - including leading coverage of England in India, award-winning analysis, breaking news and interviews and the only place for in-depth county coverage all year round. Plus: An ad-free app experience at your fingertips. Subscribe to thecricketer.com today for just £1.