England vs South Africa Prediction: Both teams are coming off embarrassing defeats against teams lower than them in ODI rankings

England and South Africa are going head to head in the 20th game of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai City, India on 21st October. Both teams are coming off embarrassing defeats against teams lower than them in ODI rankings. Who will win this game?

England form

England's World Cup campaign has had its share of ups and downs. They suffered a defeat against New Zealand, secured a victory against Bangladesh, and encountered a loss to Afghanistan. Their bid for a successful title defense has had a shaky start, but with the tournament's long format, comprising nine matches per team before the semi-finals, England has ample opportunities to correct their recent setbacks, starting with the upcoming match. Facing South Africa, England is likely to handle spin bowling more effectively than they did against Afghanistan. However, the challenge could come from the Proteas' fast bowlers, especially in favorable conditions. So far in the tournament, only Dawid Malan, Joe Root, and Harry Brook have managed to score over 100 runs for England. The rest of the batting lineup needs to step up and contribute. In terms of bowling, Reece Topley and Adil Rashid have displayed solid individual and collective form. The combination of left-arm seam and right-arm wrist spin may be utilized again. Additionally, England possesses the express pace of Mark Wood, which could prove valuable against the South African side. England has a significant opportunity to bounce back against a Proteas team still reeling from their loss to the Dutch. While Jos Buttler and his teammates are feeling the pressure, a convincing victory in this match could reaffirm their status as genuine title contenders in this World Cup.

England Predicted Lineup

Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (C, WK), Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Reece Topley, Gus Aktinson

South Africa form

In a typical fashion, the Proteas displayed strong performances against Sri Lanka and Australia, only to face a significant defeat at the hands of the Netherlands. South Africa has a longstanding history of underachievement at Cricket World Cups, and they must swiftly recapture the promise they showed at the beginning of this tournament.

The decision to prioritize Gerald Coetzee over Tabraiz Shamsi in the match against the Dutch did not yield the desired results for South Africa. They might consider reinstating the spinner over the seamer for the upcoming match. While some experts suggest that including an extra batter could be a solution, it seems unlikely that SA will turn to Reeza Hendricks at this stage.

Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock have been the standout performers in South Africa's batting lineup during this tournament. De Kock has accumulated 229 runs, while Markram has contributed 163. The Proteas can rely on these two for continued strong performances, but, similar to England with Malan and Brook, they require support from the rest of the team.

This upcoming match holds immense significance for South Africa. Another loss could potentially lead to their exclusion from further contention in the tournament. Conversely, a victory would demonstrate that their defeat to the Netherlands was just a temporary setback on their path to achieving greater goals. Both teams are under pressure, but the burden appears to be greater for the Proteas.

South Africa Predicted Lineup

Quinton de Kock (WK), Temba Bavuma (C), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Gerald Coetzee

Expert betting tips

In the initial 16 matches of this Cricket World Cup, the captains who won the toss opted to field first in 12 of them. Furthermore, out of the last 10 ODIs held at the venue for this upcoming match, the team batting second emerged victorious in seven instances.

It is highly likely that the captain winning the toss in this match will choose to field first. This decision allows the team to set a target and then pursue it later. This fixture marks the beginning of a series of five matches at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai for this World Cup. The pitch is expected to be fresh and conducive to high-scoring affairs. The previous five ODIs at this venue have seen first-innings scores of 220, 438, 280, 255, and 188, averaging around 276 runs. However, it's important to note that this ground may not consistently yield high-scoring encounters.

Australia participated in an ODI at this venue as recently as March 2023, resulting in a loss to India. In contrast, South Africa's last ODI at this ground was in 2015, where they emerged victorious against India.

Both teams are likely to contemplate the inclusion of two specialist spinners, a strategy they are expected to implement. One of these spinners might even open the bowling or be utilized for a couple of overs during the initial powerplay.

Regarding the weather, the forecast indicates no rain in the days leading up to the match and on the matchday itself. Consequently, the fixture is expected to proceed without interruptions caused by rain. Mumbai's typically high humidity levels, characteristic of India as a whole, are anticipated.

Ultimately, this match will come down to which team is more determined to bounce back from recent defeats. England is looking to recover from their loss to Afghanistan, while South Africa is eager to move on from their defeat to the Netherlands. Despite South Africa's superior recent and historical ODI record against England, it is likely that they will face another setback. England possesses the necessary depth in their playing XI and squad to address their challenges more effectively than South Africa, particularly in the bowling department, which was a concern in their recent match against the Dutch.