Proteas Keshav Maharaj bowling on the first day of ODI match. Image- Oli Scarff/ AFP.
(The Post News) – Proteas showed empathy toward their opponents, instead of celebrating yet another dominant win over England. They recognised the toll that cricket’s relentless scheduling has taken on Harry Brook’s squad.
On Tuesday, South Africa crushed the 2019 World Cup champions by seven wickets in the first ODI at Headingley. Chasing just 132, the team reached their target swiftly in the 21st over. The floodlights had only been on for five minutes when Dewald Brevis hammered Adil Rashid for six, sealing a one-sided victory.
Proteas Stay Grounded After Big Win, Acknowledge England’s Scheduling Woes.
This latest win continues South Africa’s strong form against England. They had previously bowled them out for 179 and secured a seven-wicket win in Karachi during the Champions Trophy, following a commanding 229-run victory at the 2023 World Cup.
However, they remained grounded. Players like Aiden Markram noted that England’s fatigue might have played a role. Speaking to Sky Sports, Markram said, “You jump from format to format, and the fact that we’ve come straight from a 50-over series has definitely helped us. The English players have just come out of The Hundred, so the transition is more difficult for them.”
South Africa, too, have had a packed schedule, returning from Australia recently. But despite traveling separately and dealing with their own logistics, their players have had more consistent exposure to the 50-over format.
Tony de Zorzi, however, won’t continue in the series. He sustained a left hamstring injury while fielding and will return home for scans. No replacement has been named yet.
Meanwhile, Sonny Baker, who impressed during The Hundred, made his international debut for their opponents in the match. Despite high hopes, the 22-year-old quickly discovered the significant gap between franchise cricket and the demands of the international stage. Though some of his earlier deliveries to top players like Steve Smith and David Warner had impressed selectors and sparked talk of a potential Ashes call-up, Baker struggled against Markram’s confident stroke play.
Markram dominated Baker, hitting 9 of his 13 boundaries and both sixes off the young pacer during a sublime knock of 86. His performance helped dismantle England’s bowling attack and showcased South Africa’s comfort in the format.
Still, Keshav Maharaj earned the Player of the Match award with an exceptional spell of 4/22, marking the third time in four ODIs that South Africa have bowled out their opponents. Like Markram, Maharaj downplayed the margin of victory, instead pointing to England’s lack of preparation.
“They arrived in dribs and drabs after The Hundred wrapped up on Sunday, so they didn’t have time to settle into the format,” Maharaj observed.
Both teams will travel to London on Wednesday ahead of the second ODI at Lord’s on Thursday. The three-match series will conclude in Southampton on Sunday.
While the team continue to rack up wins and build momentum, their awareness of the broader context especially the chaotic scheduling affecting teams like England shows a level of sportsmanship and maturity beyond the scoreboard.
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