ENG vs SA 2025: Predicting England XI for 1st ODI

After an exhilarating The Hundred Men’s 2025 tournament, international white-ball cricket will return to the UK when England and South Africa clash in the first of the three-ODI series. The first match of the series will be played at Headingley, Leeds, on September 2.

The England team will get back to the job to improve their ODI rankings, as they sit at the eighth spot, and the top eight teams (excluding co-hosts South Africa, who are sixth, and Zimbabwe, who are 11th) qualify automatically for the 2027 tournament..

Here is the predicted England XI for the first ODI against South Africa:

Top Order: 

Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett are the best choices to open the innings for England. Smith has made 258 runs in 13 ODIs with one fifty and has batted mostly in the middle order. But he has 101 runs, including his best score of 64 while opening the innings. 

Duckett, on the other hand, has become the first-choice opener across formats for England. He has 1176 runs in 25 ODIs at a strike rate of 105.47 with three centuries and eight fifties. Joe Root will keep his No. 3 spot, having scored 7128 runs in 180 ODIs at an average of 49.14 with 18 centuries and 42 fifties.

Middle Order: 

Captain Harry Brook is likely to keep his no. 4 spot. He has 947 runs in 29 ODIs at a strike rate of 102.71 with one century and six fifties. Jos Buttler will keep and also bat in the middle order. He has 5274 runs in 190 ODIs at a strike rate of 115.13 with 11 centuries and 27 fifties. Will Jacks will continue as the finisher and part-time spinner. He has 556 runs and six wickets in 18 ODIs thus far with the highest score of 94.

Lower Order:  

Jacob Bethell will be the second spinner-batter in the middle order. He has impressed with 317 runs in 12 ODIs with three fifties and has seven wickets to his name. He is being groomed by England to be the next Moeen Ali. Brydon Carse will bolster the big-hitting lower down the order and play the third pacer’s role. Carse has 28 wickets with one fifer in 24 ODIs.

Bowlers:  

Jofra Archer will lead the England pace attack. He has 54 wickets in 31 ODIs. Adil Rashid continues to shine in ODIs with his consistency and wicket-taking abilities. He has 224 wickets in 152 ODIs at an economy of 5.65 with a best of 5/27. Sonny Baker is expected to make his ODI debut, especially after his performance in the Hundred Men 2025. He also has an impressive List-A record with 19 wickets in 11 games with a best of 6/46.

Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

For more exclusive updates, visit BJSports to access Exclusive News that is only for you, incisive analysis, and updates, and to keep up with all of the latest information on your favorite remarkable cricket playes and teams. To ensure you never miss out, join in on the fun right away!