ENG vs SA: England playing XI vs South Africa, Match 20, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - Predicted

England will face South Africa in match No. 20 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

England didn't have a great start as they would have liked. The defending champions are sitting at the bottom half of the table with only one win in three matches. They also lost their last game against Afghanistan in Delhi, which was totally unexpected. Now they will be facing South Africa in their next game.

That match will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and will be the second game of the double header. South Africa are playing some brilliant games and looking good, but they lost their last game to Netherlands. So England can put them under pressure. So let's check out the predicted playing XI for England against South Africa.

ENG vs SA: England's Predicted playing XI vs South Africa

1. Jonny Bairstow :

Jonny Bairstow has looked out of sorts in a few games this tournament. He has got starts but hasn't converted them into a big one. He has scored 87 runs in three innings, but a lot is expected of him. Bairstow has been England's main batter at the top, and a lot will depend on him against South Africa.

2. David Malan :

Dawid Malan is England's highest run-scorer in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. The left-hander also scored a brilliant hundred earlier. He has made 186 runs in three innings at an average and strike rate of 62.00 and 109.41, respectively. England will be hoping that he can give them a good start so that they can score quickly in the power-play.

3. Joe Root :

Joe Root is another English batter in good form in this tournament. He has scored 170 runs in three innings at an average of 56.66. He is a technically sound batter who plays according to the situation, which makes him a valuable player in this line-up. Root's role will be to take the innings together so that other batters can play their natural game.

4. Ben Stokes :

Ben Stokes is expected to be back, and he will be a huge plus in this line-up. The all-rounder is one of the most impactful players in the tournament, and we will surely see him making an impact right away. He is expected to score runs and take England to victory.

5. Jos Buttler (c & wk) :

English captain will have a big role to play if his team wants to win the match. He holds an edge in the middle-order, and a lot will depend on how he takes the innings forward. Buttler is yet to show his full strength but has been a runs-scorer on Indian pitches.

6. Liam Livingstone :

Liam Livingstone will be a key player because he is good with both bat and ball. With not much to lose, England will be looking for him to show the brilliant cameo that he is known for, and if he gets going, England will be up and running.

7. Sam Curran :

Sam Curran has been under-performing for England in this tournament. The all-rounder has looked clueless with the bat and hasn't picked up many wickets. But the role of the all-rounder is to take a few wickets in the middle. But his one good spell away and can use the conditions in Mumbai in his benefit.

8. Chris Woakes :

Chris Woakes is the leader of the pack for England, but he has gone for runs. He is the main bowler with the new ball because of his ability to swing the ball both ways. South Africa depends a lot on their top-order, and if Woakes can remove early wickets, then South Africa will be under pressure.

9. Adil Rashid :

Adil Rashid is England's highest wicket-taker so far. He has taken six wickets in three innings at an economy rate of 5.06. He is the specialist spinner in this team, and his role will be to restrict the dangerous South African batters in the middle-overs. He can outfox them with his variations and can be useful against right-handers.

10. Mark Wood :

Pace does matter, as Mark Wood has shown over the years. The pacer is known for his rare speed, and that will be a challenge for South African batters. Wood will get bounce in Wankhede pitches, which will help him to get wickets. He has taken three wickets so far in this tournament.

11. Reece Topley :

Reece Topley will be the main threat with the new ball. The left-arm pacer can swing on any pitch, which can be a big challenge. He is good against left-handers and right-handers, which makes him a dangerous bowler to play against. Topley has taken five wickets in just two innings at an average of 19.