Fantasy: Expect the openers to go long

After the two-match test series between South Africa and West Indies, the focus now shifts to the ODI series between them. With the World Cup just months away, the players will have a lot more to play for than just the end results.

The Test series saw SA dominate WI, and it’s hard to see the ODI series go any other way. This will be Shai Hope’s maiden series as the full time WI skipper. SA will be without the services of Aiden Markram, Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada, and it presents a great opportunity for the players on the fringe to stake a claim for a spot in their World Cup squad.

Ground conditions

Buffalo Park, East London will play host for the first ODI. 22 games have been played on this venue, and the average score has been 226. Of the 22 games, 12 have been won by the chasing team. The new ball tends to move around & bounce more for an extended period here. But, once it settles down, it becomes a lot better for batters to contend with.

In all ODIs, pacers have taken the lion's share (68%) of all wickets. They have done this while conceding runs at a RR of 4.5 RPO and have taken a wicket every 42 balls. The corresponding numbers for spinners stand at 4.6 RPO and 51 balls. 

Average first innings score: 226

Average second innings score: 196

Suggested team

While you could go for the above team, you can also choose your team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.

Captaincy picks

For small leagues: Quinton de Kock (C), Rassie van der Dussen (VC)

For grand leagues: Temba Bavuma (C), Shai Hope (VC)

Grand league punts

Fresh off a superlative 172 in the second test, Temba Bavuma seems to have capped his return to form. The snub at the SA20 auction seems to have done a world of good for him. Expect him to carry this rich vein of form into the ODI series as well. Also, five of the last ten fifties registered at this venue have been by openers.

Shai Hope has always been the quintessential ODI player. He knows how to bide his time, and has the ability to switch gears towards the latter half. The responsibility of captaincy could also go either ways. It’s been a while since WI played this format, but Hope has scored a century and a half century in his last five innings. 

Criclytics - Top Performers

Predicted XIs

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (C), Quinton de Kock (WK), Rassie Van Der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Wayne Parnell, Tabraiz Shamsi, Gerald Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi

West Indies: Shai Hope (C), Kyle Mayers, Brandon King, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Rovman Powell, Shamarh Brooks, Jason Holder, Odean Smith, Alzarri Joseph, Shannon Gabriel, Akeal Hosein