Cricket World Cup: England v South Africa

by Luke Andrews, 18 October 2023

Join Luke Andrews as he explores everything you need to know about England’s crucial next Cricket World Cup 2023 match against South Africa. Will England regain the form that saw them crowned champions in 2019, or will South Africa add to their misery?

England is struggling so far at position five in a table that India leads. They have played three matches, winning one and losing two, most notably their recent disappointing defeat against Afghanistan.

Now, on just two points and a net run rate of -0.084, the England cricket team must bring out their best game to improve their ranking. The reigning champions have found it hard to get their form for the 2019 edition that saw them win the world trophy for the first time after twelve tournaments.

Importance of the Next Match for England

The reigning champions suffered a shock result in their previous match at the hands of Afghanistan in an exciting cricket fairy tale for the Asian nation but a massive disappointment for the Europeans.

To grasp how significant the decline was for the defending champions, consider this: Before playing against England, Afghanistan had only won a single match in the Cricket World Cup. They suffered fourteen straight losses, including a winless run in the 2019 World Cup, which England ultimately won. As the team ranked second-to-last, defeating the current champions was a monumental victory for Afghanistan.

The England team left much to be desired, particularly the batters who struggled against skilled spinners. Afghanistan, on the other hand, excelled in all aspects of the game. England must significantly adjust their overall gameplay, especially as they prepare to face even stronger opponents.

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— England Cricket (@englandcricket) October 17, 2023

The initial three matches put England in a challenging position, requiring significant improvements before their upcoming game against South Africa. They must address their weaknesses, especially since the Proteas are performing well and have gained momentum with a strong start in the World Cup.

Who Qualifies for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Semi-Finals?

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 runs from October 5 through November 19, 2023.

The competition includes ten squads vying against one another in a round-robin structure. Each squad will compete against every other squad once, and the leading four squads will move on to the semi-finals.

The team that ranks first in the group phase will go up against the team in fourth place, while the team in second place will challenge the team in third place in the semi-finals. The victors of the semi-finals will face off in the championship match, and the triumphant team will be declared the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 champions.

As you can see from the table above, India and New Zealand lead the race, with both having a 100% win rate. England’s next opponent, South Africa, is 3rd. England could draw level on four points with a victory at the weekend.

Mott Rules Out Drastic Changes

Coach Matthew Mott states that England’s morale is down, yet he won’t “throw the baby out with the bathwater” after their disappointing World Cup onset.

The title defenders were shocked by Afghanistan this past Sunday—marking their second loss in the first trio of matches.

This Saturday, a subsequent defeat to the surging South African team would likely necessitate winning all five successive matches to secure a semi-final spot.

“I can assure you, there won’t be any sweeping alterations,” Mott declared.

“We’ll consider slight adjustments, but I have no intention of throwing the baby out with the bathwater after just a few poor showings.”

England’s performance with the ball against Afghanistan was subpar—they gave up the highest number of runs in the tournament’s initial powerplay—and their batting was uninspired, getting dismissed for 215.

In their initial loss to New Zealand, they faced similar challenges, managing only 282-9 before the Kiwis quickly reached the goal in 36.2 overs.

“What we’re notably lacking is self-assurance—that kind of confidence where you puff out your chest, step onto the field, and truly dominate, which this squad has been famous for over an extended period,” Mott observed.

“Skills don’t vanish overnight, but confidence can. That’s crucial.

“And then there’s our overall mindset, our knack for executing the basics—like maintaining a bowling partnership when we’re leaking runs—and being slightly more daring with the bat.

“We take pride in putting the rival team under stress, but upon review, we’ve been the ones reacting in those two matches, so that needs to change swiftly.”

All-rounder Chris Woakes has been among the most underperforming players. The veteran pacer, who has spearheaded England’s fast-bowling unit for eight years, has given up 95 runs in 11 overs with the new ball to date.

However, Mott is confident that the 34-year-old will bounce back as the tournament progresses.

“He’s earned some leeway,” the Australian commented.

“Sure, he’s not been at his peak, and he’s the first to acknowledge it, but with athletes of that stature, you anticipate they’ll eventually find a solution.”

Mott, the architect of England’s T20 World Cup triumph last year after taking the reins in the spring, also verified that Ben Stokes is set to participate against the Proteas, having sat out the first three games due to a hip issue.

“We’ve been fairly cautious with him, but our medical team was always optimistic that the South Africa match was a realistic goal,” Mott noted.

“He’s somewhat the emotional core of the squad, and he certainly articulated himself well post-match the other day, emphasising the need to be more assertive, a quality he’s well-known for.”

Can Ben Stokes Return Inspire England?

Ben Stokes is one of England’s most significant generational players and their best performer. Who played an integral part as England triumphed in their first-ever World Cup. The thirty-two-year-old is an all-rounder, and his best input will be assisting in making invaluable on-field decisions alongside their captain, Jos Buttler.

England’s dynamic all-rounder, Ben Stokes, has yet to participate in any matches in the current ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Still, he has undeniably boosted his team’s deflated spirits following their 69-run loss to Afghanistan in Delhi on October 15.

In his post-match address after the disheartening defeat to Afghanistan in their most recent game at the ongoing Cricket World Cup 2023, Stokes urged his English colleagues to perform with greater freedom.

Ben Stokes is set to play the World Cup match against South Africa. [The Cricketer] pic.twitter.com/lQrwENhLfZ

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 18, 2023

Back to full fitness, the English standout is expected to make his inaugural appearance in the CWC 2023 against South Africa. It’s worth mentioning that Stokes was absent from England’s opening three World Cup 2023 contests due to a hip ailment.

England’s chief coach Matthew Mott, is optimistic that Stokes will be match fit for the squad’s upcoming World Cup 2023 clash with South Africa.

Cricket World Cup 2023 – South Africa

South Africa won their first two games, beating Sri Lanka and Australia. The Africans are the most improved team hunting down their first-ever World Cup title, and would also be a first for the entire continent.

However, just like England, they will be heading into the weekend after a momentous defeat that has shocked the cricketing world after losing to the unfancied Netherlands by 38 runs.

For the Dutch, a notable 38-run triumph over World Cup favourites South Africa ignited frenzied jubilations from the underdogs, as Logan van Beek secured the decisive wicket.

The outburst was unquestionably warranted: their inaugural victory in this year’s event, the nation’s first-ever win against a Test-playing country in a 50-over World Cup, and merely their third victory in the tournament’s history.

“It stands as the most unforgettable and iconic victory in Dutch cricket,” their past all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate conveyed to BBC Test Match Special amid the post-game euphoria.

Previously, the Netherlands had only managed to defeat fellow Associate members Scotland and Namibia in 50-over World Cups, where 14 teams participated. So, toppling the hitherto undefeated Proteas was a sensational upset.

While the outcome may have a minimal impact on the long-term rankings, with South Africa maintaining a top-four position and the Netherlands lingering near the base, it won’t diminish their enthusiasm or alter the importance of the event.

England v South Africa Cricket – Head-to-Head

South Africa has a slight edge against the Englishmen by just three games, winning thirty-three games against the thirty they have lost. England won the last time the two sides faced each other by fifty-nine runs, but South Africa won the ODI three series by a 2 – 1 scoreline.

Cricket World Cup – England v South Africa Venue and Conditions

The World Cup cricket match between England and South Africa will take place at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India. This renowned stadium recently hosted a high-profile event: the 2011 Cricket World Cup final. It is one of ten venues selected for the 2023 World Cup and has a seating capacity of 32,000.

The weather forecast indicates that there will be clear skies and no rain during the match, creating an ideal setting for an enjoyable game. Temperatures are expected to be between 25 and 32 degrees Celsius, and the humidity is projected to be around 50%.

The clear skies might not assist swing bowlers much, but they will create a pleasant atmosphere.

Cricket World Cup – England v South Africa Betting Odds

In terms of cricket betting, South Africa’a shock defeat against the Netherlands has impacted the betting market immensely. Earlier in the week, the Africans were clear favourites.

Taking the draw out of the equation, England are now slight favourites with Betiton at 3/4, just ahead of the South Africans at 1/1.

A popular market at sports betting sites is predicting which team will hit the most boundaries.

Bookmakers believe England will hit more fours in the game, pricing them at 4/5, ahead of 11/10for the South Africans. The draw is available at 14/1.

Regarding sixes, there is nothing between the two sides; both are priced at 21/20, and the draw is 33/5.

The ICC Cricket World Cup game between England and South Africa is on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. The game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket, with highlights shown later on Channel Four.