Eyes on captains Buttler, Miller in high octane clash

David Miller is a more experienced T20 player than Jos Buttler, but Buttler has a longer CV as a captain. Might details like that matter in the hurly-burly of the three-match T20I series between England and South Africa that starts in Bristol on Wednesday?

Perhaps. Or perhaps not. Miller summed up the uncertainty during a press conference on Tuesday: "As captain you can't control everything. It's about having trust in the players, which I do have."

Miller has played 382 T20s - 100 of them internationals; 97 for South Africa, the other three for an ICC World XI against Pakistan in Lahore in September 2017 - to Buttler's 319, including 91 for England. Buttler has led teams in 38 games, among them 23 white-ball internationals. Miller's leadership credentials amount to 14 matches. His only time at the helm of South Africa's senior side was in two T20Is against Pakistan in February 2019.

Buttler, England's appointed white-ball captain, has presided over the five losses his team have suffered in eight completed matches in the two formats this month. He is thus under scrutiny to turn things around. Miller is standing in for the injured Temba Bavuma, and so is under less pressure to succeed as skipper.

While Buttler would have liked to have Ben Stokes around - the allrounder is being rested for the series - Miller will welcome back Kagiso Rabada from his break for the ODI rubber, along with Rilee Rossouw, the former Kolpakian who is likely to play his first match for South Africa since October 2016.

South Africa have played 139 international matches of all descriptions on 14 different grounds on their 22 trips to England since their first visit in 1907. But they have never played an international in Bristol. By Friday next week, they should have played three - their two T20Is against Ireland next are also scheduled for WG Grace's home ground.

England and South Africa will play the second match of their series in Cardiff on Thursday, just 41 kilometres away from Bristol, with the third game in Southampton on Sunday.

The teams last met in the format at the World Cup in Sharjah in November. South Africa won by 10 runs, inflicting England's only loss in their five group matches. This series will be important preparation for the next edition of the global showpiece in Australia in October and November.

With England currently ranked second and South Africa fourth, high octane cricket can be expected.

When: July 27, 2022; 6.30pm Local Time

Where: County Ground, Bristol

What to expect: A dry day/night. Bristol's boundaries are on the short side both straight and square of the pitch, which tends to be slow but sound.

Team News

England

Harry Brook could play ahead of Phil Salt, and David Willey might crack at the nod at Sam Curran's expense.

Possible XI: Jason Roy, Jos Buttler (c), Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley

South Africa

Andile Phehlukwayo's availability remains uncertain in the wake of the concussion he suffered in the first ODI last Tuesday.

Possible XI: Quinton de Kock, Rilee Rossouw, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, David Miller (c), Heinrich Klaasen, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

What they said:

"Sometimes it comes off, sometimes it doesn't. But, more often than not, if you have that mindset, and if you're playing with that aggressiveness and you are fully committed to it, it will come off." - Adil Rashid makes the case for England continuing with their relentlessly attacking approach

"I've captained a few times in my career so far, and what I've learnt is that things do get a bit crazy and frantic out there. It's about having clear plans along with trying to stay as calm as possible." - David Miller on his impending challenge