Bowlers likely to play key role in a 3-match T20 series between England and South Africa

Gulf Today Report

The pitches in South Africa could be a bowlers’ paradise in the three-match Twenty20 series between South Africa and England which gets underway at Newlands on Friday.

There could be a rational competition between bat and ball instead of providing feasts of attacking batting as the early season pitches in South Africa tend to give some help to both pace and spin.

In the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) in the UAE, South African duo Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje were a successful strike combination for Delhi Capitals, who were runners-up in the tournament whereas England’s Jofra Archer’s performance was outstanding for Rajasthan Royals in the mega event.

England’s Mark Wood played in all three matches in national team’s most recent T20 series, when they beat Australia 2-1 in September.

As Nortje clocked record 156.2km/hr during the IPL, other three also have the capability to deliver at the speed of approximately 150km/hr.

With leg-spinner Adil Rashid a consistent threat in white-ball cricket, England may have a slight advantage in spin bowling in the absence of iconic spinner Imran Tahir, who is no longer in the hosts’ squad.

But both teams look to be evenly balanced in their spin attack also because of left-arm unorthodox spinner Tabraiz Shamsi, who is considered to be a worthy successor of Tahir.