Ahead of the three-match T20 series between South Africa and England, The Cricketer takes a look at who would make a combined XI between the two sides
“Among the best all-format players of our time,” said Mark Nicholas on Thursday. De Kock has enjoyed a fine year, which began with him top-scoring for his country during the T20I series between these sides in February.
After the enforced delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic, he was able to carry that form into the IPL, scoring 503 runs in 16 matches, forming an integral part of the triumphant Mumbai Indians team.
One of the world’s very best T20 cricketers and arguably England’s greatest-ever white-ball batsman, the only question mark surrounds where he is best utilised.
He is likely to open the innings against South Africa, although Eoin Morgan has remained tight-lipped about the exact make-up of England’s loaded line-up.
The world’s top T20I batsman, going by the ICC’s ranking system, Malan’s record in England colours is little short of remarkable.
Twelve months ago, he hammered an extraordinary hundred against New Zealand and he has since reaffirmed his importance to his side with runs against Pakistan and Australia during the summer.
Surprisingly left out by Sunrisers Hyderabad midway through their IPL campaign, don’t let that fool you as to the quality of England’s white-ball gun. With Buttler likely to open the innings with Jason Roy, Bairstow would find himself squeezed into the middle order.
A fine player of spin, he will see that as little issue. A massive part of England’s white-ball success with the bat and in the field, how he takes on the middle overs will be a fascinating part of the series.
Malan is the world's top-ranked T20I batsman
Since the conclusion of last summer’s World Cup, Morgan’s partial reinvention as a six-hitting machine at the back end of T20 innings has been fascinating to watch. When these sides last met in February, he was named man of the series – not least for a knock in the decider, featuring seven sixes, that dragged his team to a 223-run target.
His management of England’s resources with a full-strength unit to choose from will make for an intriguing subplot as he searches for his strongest T20I XI, a year out from the T20 World Cup.
Back in England colours after missing the latter part of the summer to be with his family in New Zealand, Stokes returned to form with a hundred for Rajasthan Royals against Mumbai Indians during the IPL. He was initially slow to get going after joining up with his Royals teammates, and he only really clicked into gear once opening the innings.
He is unlikely to be afforded that luxury here, given the wealth of options at England’s disposal, but his all-round game makes him a fundamental part of this team, even if his T20I numbers are significantly less flattering than his true abilities might warrant.
The allrounder comes into this series on the back of a stellar personal campaign in the IPL, emerging as one of few bright sparks as Chennai Super Kings endured a miserable competition.
Morgan spoke very highly of him on Thursday and he might just get the nod over Moeen Ali in the first match of the upcoming series, which is also why he pips the off-spinner to a place in this composite side.
Chris Jordan is three wickets away from becoming England's leading T20I wicket-taker
Three wickets in this series will take Jordan above Stuart Broad and into record-holding territory as England’s all-time leading T20I wicket-taker.
He has established himself as a go-to option for Morgan at the death, while his yorkers helped to win Kings XI Punjab a super over during the IPL. A fabulous fielder and dangerous lower-order hitter to boot, he is one of the first names on England’s teamsheet and he sneaks in here ahead of Anrich Nortje.
MVP in the IPL and seemingly at his very best, Archer’s presence in England’s T20I side might just give them the edge when the T20 World Cup comes around.
Curiously, he has only featured in four T20Is to date, but his experience in competitions all over the world – not to mention in other forms of international cricket – make him a vital cog in England’s T20 wheel. He is ranked ninth on the T20 Player Index.
The leading wicket-taker in this year’s IPL and an all-round fantastic bowler, his battles with England’s top order will be crucial to South Africa’s chances of restricting a much-vaunted batting line-up.
He spoke in the aftermath to his success with Delhi Capitals about feeling refreshed following cricket’s Covid-19 shutdown. That revived sense of freshness was certainly present for Delhi, and so South Africa will expect more of the same.
An enormous part of England’s white-ball revival, even if he has at times gone about his work under the radar, he is Morgan’s man.
A genuinely world-class wrist-spinner full of control and an array of variations, his role will take on even more importance if England opt for Sam Curran over Moeen Ali, leaving Rashid as the solitary spinner.
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