England go the spin way as they ask SA to bat first as Heather Knight returns from the hamstring injury for her 150th ODI.
In their World Cup opener against South Africa at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati, England chose to bowl first after winning the toss.
England chose to start with three spinners (Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, and Linsey Smith) and two seam options (Lauren Bell and Nat Sciver-Brunt), who has only bowled a few overs since the WPL final in mid-March due to an Achilles injury. The game is expected to start in an exhausting 83% humidity.
With three half-centuries in England’s four warm-up matches, including 84 against India and 60 against Australia, Emma Lamb has cemented her spot in the middle order, while Heather Knight returns from her hamstring injury sustained early in the English summer to play her 150th ODI at No. 3. Veteran batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge was placed on the bench when Lamb was added.
“As a team we’d like to get out there as a group and make a mark,” Sciver-Brunt, the England captain who is leading the team for the first time at a World Cup, said at the toss. “Hopefully the lights will come on and make the wicket a bit easier.”
With three spinners and four seam bowlers in its lineup, South Africa has finished second in the last two T20 World Cups. Making her third World Cup appearance, veteran Masabata Klaas was selected over fellow seamer Tumi Sekhukhune. Batting all-rounder Anneke Bosch was selected at No. 5 instead of Annerie Dercksen, and wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta was moved to No. 6. Klaas has a strong record against England at the World Cup, taking 2 for 22 and 2 for 55 in 2022.
Laura Wolvaardt, South Africa’s captain, said of the fresh pitch: “It looks a bit slower than we thought it would be watching that first game. In a tournament like this there’s such a long time to stay focused for so just concentrating on England.”