The England cricket team toured South Africa during November and December 2020 to play three One Day International (ODI) and three Twenty20 International (T20I) matches.[1][2] However, the ODI matches were called off due to a COVID-19 outbreak.[3] The ODI series would have formed part of the inaugural 2020–2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Super League.[4][5]
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the England team stayed in a bio-secure environment whilst in South Africa,[6] with the matches played in Cape Town and Paarl.[7] In October 2020, Cricket South Africa (CSA) made a plea to its parliament, saying that is of "critical importance",[8] while waiting on government approval for the tour to go ahead.[9] On 21 October 2020, both cricket boards agreed to the series, with the full tour itinerary being confirmed.[10][11]
England won the first two T20I matches to take an unassailable lead in the series.[12] England won the third match by nine wickets to take the series 3–0, with the victory putting England at the top of the ICC T20I Championship.[13]
The first ODI match, originally scheduled to be played on 4 December, was cancelled less than an hour before it was due to start,[14] after a South African player tested positive for coronavirus.[15] As a result, the fixture was moved back by two days.[16] However, on 6 December, the rescheduled match was abandoned after two members of the hotel staff tested positive for coronavirus.[17] Shortly after the match was called off, two members of England's touring party returned "unconfirmed positive tests" for the virus.[18] Later the same day, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that the second ODI, scheduled for 7 December, would not be played on that date.[19] On 7 December, the remainder of the ODI series was postponed.[20] Both cricket boards agreed to work on hosting the ODI series at another time.[21][22]
Squads
Jake Ball, Tom Banton, Tom Helm were also named as reserves for England across both formats.[27] Kagiso Rabada was ruled out of South Africa's ODI squad after picking up a groin injury during the T20I series.[28] South Africa also rested Faf du Plessis, Pite van Biljon, Bjorn Fortuin and Reeza Hendricks for the ODI series.[29]
Practice matches
A South Africa intra-squad warm-up match, due to take place on 21 November, was cancelled after two players tested positive for coronavirus.[30] A second match, scheduled to be played on 23 November, was also cancelled in an attempt to limit the impact of any possible infections.[31] Conversely, England played one 40-over intra-squad match and one 20-over intra-squad match,[32] with Jos Buttler and Eoin Morgan named as the team captains.[33]
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- Team Buttler won the toss and elected to bat.
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- Team Morgan won the toss and elected to bat.
T20I series
1st T20I
2nd T20I
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- England won the toss and elected to field.
- This was the first T20I match to be played at this venue.[34]
- Adil Rashid (Eng) took his 50th wicket in T20Is.[35]
3rd T20I
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- South Africa won the toss and elected to bat.
- Chris Jordan became the leading wicket-taker for England in T20Is, taking his 66th dismissal.[36]
- Jos Buttler and Dawid Malan (Eng) made the highest partnership for the 2nd wicket in T20Is with 167 runs.[37]
ODI series
1st ODI
2nd ODI
3rd ODI
References
- ^ "England hope for six-match tour to South Africa this winter". Evening Standard. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
- ^ "England expect South Africa tour go-ahead after quarantine agreement is reached". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- ^ "South Africa-England CWC Super League series postponed". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
- ^ "Schedule for inaugural World Test Championship announced". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- ^ "Men's Future Tours Programme" (PDF). International Cricket Council. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ^ "England's winter tours: What is the current state of play?". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
- ^ "England confident of touring SA". SA Cricket Mag. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
- ^ "England tour of 'critical importance' - CSA plea to South African parliament". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- ^ "CSA await government approval for England tour next month". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ^ "England men's white-ball team to tour South Africa". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- ^ "Proteas to play World Champions England next month". Cricket South Africa. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- ^ "Dawid Malan paces tricky chase to perfection to seal the series for England". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- ^ "South Africa v England: Dawid Malan & Jos Buttler share 167 as tourists win series 3–0". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
- ^ "South Africa-England ODI called off amid Covid scare". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ^ "South Africa vs England: First ODI postponed after Proteas player tests positive for coronavirus". Sky Sports. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ^ "First ODI between South Africa and England postponed". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ^ "South Africa v England: First ODI called off again after positive Covid tests". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
- ^ "South Africa v England: Two members of tour party return 'unconfirmed positive' Covid tests". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
- ^ "2nd ODI between England and South Africa will not take place". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
- ^ "South Africa v England: ODI series called off after Covid-19 tests". BBC Sport. 7 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
- ^ "Remainder of England and South Africa ODI series postponed". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
- ^ "CSA & ECB agree to postpone ODI series". Cricket South Africa. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
- ^ "Uncapped Glenton Stuurnman in South Africa white-ball squads". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- ^ "South Africa v England: Ben Stokes named in Twenty20 squad for white-ball tour". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "CSA name Proteas squad for inbound England tour". Cricket South Africa. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- ^ "England confirm T20 and ODI squads for South Africa tour". The Cricketer. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes, Sam Curran rested from England ODI squad in South Africa". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Kagiso Rabada ruled out of England ODI series with groin injury". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
- ^ "South Africa's team balance in focus with Faf du Plessis rested for ODI series". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ "South Africa v England: Second home player tests positive for Covid-19". BBC Sport. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- ^ "South Africa v England: Proteas squad training in separate groups". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Olly Stone gives England selectors a nudge before Sam Curran and Joe Root seal warm-up win". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ Martin, Ali (20 November 2020). "England squad match to go ahead as South Africa record second positive". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- ^ "Ominous signs for South Africa after England win ugly". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- ^ "Adil Rashid dazzles as England limit South Africa". News & Star. 29 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- ^ "Jos Buttler and Dawid Malan blast England to T20 series whitewash of South Africa". Evening Standard. December 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
- ^ "Dawid Malan and Jos Buttler smash England to top of T20I rankings with sweep of South Africa". Sky Sports. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
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