England expects Ben Stokes to be fit to revive ICC World Cup 2023 campaign against South Africa

Ben Stokes (Pic: File Pic)

The England cricket team will expect Ben Stokes to return in the squad ahead of their ICC World Cup 2023 clash against South Africa on Saturday, October 21.

Having recorded, the highest score of the ICC World Cup 2023, South Africa faced their first defeat against the Netherlands team. Even, England lost against Afghanistan, when the Afghans displayed their skills with the ball. England may have a 4-3 record over South Africa in 50-over World Cup history but it is the Proteas who have had a better run in this edition.

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Winning two out of three games played, the Proteas will have enough confidence to beat England in their upcoming clash. Defending Champions England have only won one game in the ICC World Cup 2023 so far and is lacking efforts in almost all departments.

England has been largely rusty and inconsistent despite having a dangerous squad on paper. They are likely to have the services of their "spiritual leader" Ben Stokes for the game at Wankhede. Stokes missed the first three games due to a hip injury.

"Ben trained really well last night. It is great to see him back. He obviously brings a lot on the field and with his presence and leadership skills as well as someone who is always good to turn to," England captain Jos Buttler was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

England's team looks dangerous on paper but has not yet delivered the performances accordingly.

England's most successful bowler in the 2019 edition with 20 wickets, Jofra Archer, linked up with the squad in Mumbai on Thursday but he is only a travelling reserve with no set plan of making a comeback to top-flight cricket.

Consistency is never a trait associated with Temba Bavuma the batter but the diminutive player has led his side admirably over the last year.

With back-to-back hundreds, Quinton de Kock has made it clear that he wants to leave an indelible mark in his last World Cup for South Africa. Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen are also in form and can both consolidate or accelerate depending on the situation.

South African batsmen displayed exceptional batting in their first match against Sri Lanka. Proteas's wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock was not able to score big against the Netherlands but has been a consistent run scorer for South Africa so far in the ICC World Cup 2023.

However, South Africa will avoid the mistakes they made against the Netherlands in their last game to secure the win against England.

The World Cup jamboree finally arrives at the venue of the 2011 edition's final, the Wankhede Stadium, where the ball tends to do a bit but the flatness of the surface in general combined with shorter boundary lengths make it a batting paradise.
The outfield here was relaid here after it hosted the IPL earlier this year.

Squads:
England: Jos Buttler (c & wk), Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Mark Wood and Chris Woakes.

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen and Lizaad Williams.

The match starts at 2 pm IST.

(With PTI Inputs)