England and South Africa clash in the second game of their three-match ODI series on Friday (13:00), with the tourists holding the advantage heading to Old Trafford.
Jos Buttler’s (pictured) men looked out-of-sorts in the extreme heat in Durham on Tuesday, with the Proteas going on to secure a comfortable 62 run victory. England are 4/7 to level the series, while South Africa can be backed at 11/8 to win the second ODI.
Having lost the recent ODI series to India, it’s not been an ideal start for new white-ball coach Matthew Mott and he won’t be able to call upon Ben Stokes.
The Test skipper played his last ODI at Chester-le-Street and England are expected to replace Stokes with batsman Phil Salt (18/5 to be England’s top run scorer in 2nd ODI) for Friday’s clash in Manchester.
Opener Salt looks set to be given a chance to establish himself in the 50-over squad, having played just six ODIs to date, although he currently has an average of 58.66 at international level.
Speaking about his situation, the 25-year-old said: “It’s very obvious that whenever you get an opportunity to play for England you have to take it with both hands.
“It’s my first chance being around it with a full-strength squad and being in the conversation for being in the XI so that’s exciting. I have been on the fringes for a while so I want to get in there and show what I can do.”
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South Africa will also be forced into a change, with all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo set to miss the last two one-dayers of the series due to concussion protocols.
Dwaine Pretorius (5/1 top South African wicket-taker) replaced Phehlukwayo, who collided with his stand-in captain Keshav Maharaj in the field at Durham, and is expected to start at Old Trafford.
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