Pace attacks, contrasting preparations and a battle at the death... SOUTH AFRICA V ENGLAND KEY BATTLES

The Cricketer looks at some of the key areas that could decide the outcome of South Africa's three-match T20I series against England

Anrich Nortje and Jos Buttler: Renewing hostilities

After one of the most remarkable Indian Premier League overs on record, Anrich Nortje and Jos Buttler will renew hostilities at Newlands when the T20I series gets underway.

When Rajasthan Royals faced Delhi Capitals, Buttler opened up in pursuit of 162, with Nortje charging in.

His first ball was smashed over long-on for six, before a pair of singles were exchanged. Then, Buttler unfurled a pair of ramp shots – both went for boundaries, the second in response to the quickest delivery ever bowled in the competition’s history. Only, Nortje had the last laugh, bowling him with the final ball of an astounding over.

And, such is the beauty of the global cricketing calendar in this unique year, they are sharpening their knives to do battle once again.

We won’t know until the first toss of the coin where Buttler ultimately stands in England’s loaded batting line-up, but reading between the lines, it would suggest that Eoin Morgan is committed to maximising his use at the front of the innings, leaving Jonny Bairstow perhaps in the middle order. If that is the case, Buttler v Nortje Part II may well await.

Quinton de Kock v Jofra Archer

For Nortje and Buttler, see Quinton de Kock and Jofra Archer. Both sides have pace to burn in Mark Wood and Kagiso Rabada, in addition to the pair mentioned here.

When these two sides last met only in February, the wicketkeeper-batsman was in some outrageous form. He smashed scores of 31, 65 and 35 in three games, looking a million dollars in doing so.

Archer - ranked ninth in the T20 Player Index - missed out on that series with his troublesome elbow, an injury now in the distant past. He was named MVP after an outstanding IPL campaign for Rajasthan Royals, and when he faced de Kock - ranked 10th - in October in a clash with Mumbai Indians, he bowled him in the first over.

Given the strength in England’s batting, the importance of de Kock to South Africa can scarcely be underplayed. If Archer can keep him under wraps, England will believe they’re firmly in the ascendancy.

^{Quinton de Kock is key to South Africa's chances}

A battle at the death

In recent times, Eoin Morgan’s semi-reinvention as a consistent T20 six-hitter has further enhanced an already brutal batting line-up.

In the last 12 months alone, he has hit rapid half centuries against New Zealand, South Africa and Pakistan in the game’s shortest format.

Morgan was named player of the series when these sides met in February, with his own contributions culminating in a series-clinching knock at Centurion, with England in pursuit of 223 in the decider.

Entering the fray in the 13th over, he only faced 22 balls for his unbeaten 57 – an exhibition that featured seven sixes. None of South Africa’s bowlers were spared; they all conceded their runs at upwards of 10 runs per over. Only twice in the country’s T20I history has a bowler conceded more runs in a four-over spell than Lungi Ngidi did on that occasion.

The price of preparation…

Two teams, two very different kinds of preparation. For England, their quarantine period has passed fairly smoothly, with training opportunities and – perhaps crucially – two intra-squad matches that will, if little else, have shocked the competitive juices into life.

In the first – a 40-over game, Team Buttler came out on top, with Joe Root and Sam Billings in the runs and Tom Curran picking up four wickets in defeat.

In the second – more relevant ahead of the initial T20i series, Team Buttler won again – and convincingly so. They required just 76 balls to chase down a 140-run target. Sam Curran smashed 45 off just 18 balls, while Root – not in the T20 squad, of course, impressed again.

South Africa, meanwhile, have endured a more chaotic start: two positive coronavirus tests within the 24-man have led to four players self-isolating. Those circumstances also led to the cancellation of two intra-squad practice games of their own, while Mark Boucher’s side are training in two separate groups as they attempt to minimise any risk of transmission.

What that means when the series begins on Friday, it is impossible to know just yet. England, however, with dilemmas only around how best to make use of a fearsome artillery of hitters, will feel readier for action.

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