2019 ICC Cricket World Cup
England vs South Africa
The Oval, London
Thursday 30 May 2019
11:30 CAT
England and South Africa are set to provide a thrilling start to the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup when they meet in the opening match at the Oval in London on Thursday 30 May.
Neither side has ever won the tournament – England have been runners-up three times, while SA have reached the semifinals on four occasions – but both believe that 2019 could be the year when they break their jinx at the premier tournament in international cricket.
England come into the tournament as one of the favourites due to their incredible hitting power, with a batting order that runs deep and possesses some of the best ball-strikers in the game today, including captain Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler.
The Proteas cannot match the hos team’s batting firepower, but they do have arguably a better bowling attack, led by the speed and skill of Kagiso Rabada as well as the canny leg spin of veteran Imran Tahir, who will retire from ODIs after the tournament and will be looking to go out on a high.
In head-to-head terms, England and South Africa have met in 59 previous ODI matches. The Proteas have a slight edge in winning 29 matches compared to 26 for their opponents. However, in 25 clashes on English soil, the home side leads 15 wins to eight.
The sides last played each other in ODIs in a three-match series in England in May 2017 which the hosts won 2-1.
England vs SA – ODI head-to-head, all matches
Matches played 59
England wins 26
SA wins 29
Ties 1
No result 3
England vs SA – ODI head-to-head, matches in England
Matches played 25
England wins 15
SA wins 8
Ties 0
No result 2