England vs South Africa – 3rd ODI Preview

Here’s a compelling image to serve as a striking visual accompaniment for your England vs South Africa 3rd ODI Preview—featuring intense action from their recent encounters at The Rose Bowl.

England vs South Africa – 3rd ODI Preview

Match Snapshot

• Fixture: England vs South Africa, 3rd ODI (South Africa Tour of England, 2025)
• Date & Time: Sunday, 7 September 2025; approximately 3:30 PM IST / 11:00 AM local
• Venue: The Rose Bowl (Hampshire Bowl), Southampton
• Series Status: South Africa sealed the series with wins in the first two ODIs; England are playing to avoid a 3-0 whitewash (The Indian Express, CricTracker).

Broadcast & Streaming

• India: Telecast on Sony Sports Network; Streaming via SonyLIV and FanCode (The Indian Express).
• UK: Available on Sky Sports Cricket (Racing Post, Talksport).

Series Context

• First ODI (Headingley): South Africa bowled England out (131 all out) and chased the target emphatically (mint).
• Second ODI (Lord’s): A nail-biter—England were just 5 runs short in a high-scoring chase; South Africa clinched the series (mint, CricTracker, Cricket World).
• This match is a dead rubber, with England aiming for pride and momentum ahead of the T20I series against Ireland (CricTracker).

Pitch & Venue Conditions

• The Rose Bowl traditionally offers a balanced pitch with early swing and seam assistance for pacers; spinners have limited impact (stumpscast.com).
• Data shows batting first has been slightly advantageous, although outcomes heavily depend on match situations (CricTracker, mint).

Teams & Key Players

England (likely XI):

• Jamie Smith (wk), Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid
  (Overton replaces Saqib Mahmood for added batting depth) (Sky Sports, mint, Racing Post).

South Africa (likely XI):

• Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi (with Kagiso Rabada monitored for fitness) (OneCricket, Reuters, Racing Post, mint).

Players to Watch

South Africa:

• Aiden Markram: Series top-run scorer—135 runs at an average of 67.5 (OneCricket).
• Keshav Maharaj: Leading wicket-taker in the series (6 wickets), key in middle overs (OneCricket, Racing Post).

England:

• Jos Buttler: Highest run-getter for England so far with 76 runs (OneCricket).
• Adil Rashid: Leading English wicket-taker with 5 wickets and strong economy (OneCricket).
• Newcomer Spotlight: Sonny Baker may debut as a forward-looking change, bringing pace and swing (The Guardian, The Times).

Tactical Outlook

• England must tighten their bowling—especially in the middle overs where part-timers have leaked runs (112 conceded from Bethell and Jacks across two ODIs) (The Times, Racing Post, mint).
• South Africa, with superior form and depth across departments, remain firm favorites and likely holders of top momentum (CricTracker, Cricket World).

Prediction & Stakes

• South Africa to complete a 3-0 sweep, leveraging their current form and consistent execution.
• England need a collective resurgence—strong starts, better bowling plans, and mental reset—to salvage pride and take confidence forward.

Summary Table

Match Overview

• Fixture: England vs South Africa, 3rd ODI (South Africa Tour of England 2025)
• Date: Sunday, 7th September 2025
• Time: 11:00 AM local / 3:30 PM IST
• Venue: The Rose Bowl, Southampton
• Series Status: South Africa lead 2-0 (already sealed the series)

England enter this match under immense pressure. After a heavy defeat in the first ODI and a narrow loss in the second at Lord’s, they are staring at a possible 3-0 series whitewash at home. South Africa, meanwhile, are high on confidence and will look to maintain their dominance.

Recent Results

• 1st ODI (Leeds): England bowled out cheaply for 131; South Africa chased comfortably.
• 2nd ODI (Lord’s): A thriller where England fell 5 runs short chasing over 300, sealing the series for the Proteas.

South Africa have clearly been the more balanced side with contributions across batting and bowling, while England’s batting collapses and ineffective bowling in middle overs remain a concern.

Pitch & Conditions – The Rose Bowl

• The Rose Bowl usually offers good batting conditions but with early swing for seamers.
• Pacers may dominate the first 10 overs before the surface settles.
• Spinners historically have less impact here compared to other English grounds.
• A score of 280+ batting first could be competitive.

Likely Playing XIs

England

1. Jamie Smith (wk)
2. Ben Duckett
3. Joe Root
4. Harry Brook (c)
5. Jos Buttler
6. Jacob Bethell
7. Will Jacks
8. Jamie Overton
9. Brydon Carse
10. Jofra Archer
11. Adil Rashid

👉 Sonny Baker may debut if England decide to test bench strength.

South Africa

1. Aiden Markram
2. Ryan Rickelton (wk)
3. Temba Bavuma (c)
4. Matthew Breetzke
5. Tristan Stubbs
6. Dewald Brevis
7. Corbin Bosch
8. Keshav Maharaj
9. Nandre Burger
10. Lungi Ngidi
11. Kagiso Rabada (if fit)

Players to Watch

England

• Jos Buttler – Most consistent scorer for England this series. Needs a big innings.
• Adil Rashid – Top English wicket-taker so far, could be key in middle overs.
• Harry Brook – Under pressure as captain, must lead from the front with the bat.

South Africa

• Aiden Markram – Top run-scorer in the series; composed and reliable.
• Keshav Maharaj – Leading wicket-taker with his accuracy and control.
• Dewald Brevis – The “Baby AB” is due for a big innings; explosive batting potential.

Key Battles

1. Archer vs Markram – New-ball threat vs SA’s form batsman.
2. Buttler vs Maharaj – England’s finisher vs South Africa’s spin anchor.
3. Ngidi/Rabada vs Root – Early breakthroughs will decide England’s chase/stability.

Tactical Preview

• England’s Weakness: Lack of control in the middle overs. Part-timers like Bethell and Jacks have leaked runs (over 110 in two games).
• South Africa’s Strength: Balanced attack—seam upfront, Maharaj’s control in the middle, plus batting depth down to Bosch.

England may need to bat first, put up a big total, and then attack early with Archer and Rashid to stand a chance.

Prediction

• South Africa Favorites: They’ve shown composure and balance in both games. A 3-0 sweep is highly possible.
• England’s Hope: If Buttler and Root fire, and Archer delivers with the new ball, they could salvage pride with a consolation win.

✅ Summary: Expect another intense contest. South Africa chase a clean sweep, while England desperately need a win to avoid embarrassment at home.