Picking a combined England-South Africa playing 11 for 2024 T20 World Cup ft. Jos Buttler, Kagiso Rabada
Defending champions England will take on South Africa in today's 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 round match. The winner of this game will inch a step closer to the semifinals of the mega event.
England started their Super 8s round with an emphatic victory against West Indies, whereas South Africa continued their undefeated run by beating USA in their first game of the Super 8s stage.
The last time England and South Africa crossed paths at the T20 World Cup was back in 2021, where the Proteas beat the English team in a high-scoring thriller. Before the two teams lock horns again in the T20 World Cup, here's a look at a combined playing XI featuring players from England and South Africa.
Openers - Jos Buttler (c) and Quinton de Kock (wk)
The right hand-left hand combination of Jos Buttler and Quinton de Kock will open the innings for this team. Buttler, who led England to the T20 World Cup championship in 2022, will also lead this team.
Speaking of the two players' T20I records, Buttler has amassed 3,141 runs in 111 innings at a strike rate of 145.55. The England skipper has recorded one century and 23 half-centuries in T20I cricket.
On the other side, de Kock has aggregated 2,463 runs in 87 T20I innings for South Africa. The Proteas wicketkeeper has maintained an impressive average of 31.58, with his highest score being 100.
Middle Order - Jonny Bairstow, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Liam Livingstone, and Sam Curran
The destructive Jonny Bairstow will share the middle-order responsibilities with David Miller, who has proven himself as a clutch player. Big-hitters Heinrich Klaasen and Liam Livingstone will add muscle to the lineup, while pace-bowling all-rounder Sam Curran will provide balance to the playing XI.
Bairstow has 1,655 runs to his name in 70 T20I innings. He is yet to score a century, but he has 10 scores of 50 or more in 70 innings. Miller has stood up and delivered the goods for South Africa when the team is under pressure. Overall, he has aggregated 2,371 runs in 106 innings.
Talking about the team's two big-hitters now, England's Liam Livingstone has smashed 43 sixes in 35 innings, while South Africa's Klaasen has hit 40 maximums in 44 innings.
Curran has represented England in 48 T20Is, scalping 49 wickets and scoring 260 runs. He played a major role in England's T20 World Cup title win two years ago.
Bowlers - Kagiso Rabada, Adil Rashid, Anrich Nortje, and Mark Wood
Kagiso Rabada will form an explosive pace attack with Anrich Nortje and Mark Wood. Rabada has accounted for 65 wickets in 61 T20Is at a strike rate of 20.23, and his compatriot Nortje has bagged 48 wickets in 37 innings, with his best figures being 4/7.
Wood has 50 T20I wickets in just 33 appearances. His economy rate is close to 8, and his average is below 20. England's Adil Rashid will lead the spin lineup of this team. Rashid has the experience of 111 T20I matches, where he has taken 116 wickets.
Combined England-South Africa playing XI for 2024 T20 World Cup
Jos Buttler (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Jonny Bairstow, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Kagiso Rabada, Adil Rashid, Anrich Nortje and Mark Wood.