England have named their playing XI for the first match of their three-match ODI series against South Africa, which begins on September 2 at Headingley in Leeds.
Sonny Baker set to debut for England
England have handed 22-year-old seamer Sonny Baker his ODI debut. Baker impressed during the England Lions tour of Australia in January, with figures of 4-43, 1-28 and 3-60. Recently, he was part of Manchester Originals' Men's Hundred campaign, picking up nine wickets at an average of 16.22 and an economy of 7.68, including a hat-trick.
Meanwhile, Jofra Archer will also make a comeback to the England ODI XI for the first time since their Champions Trophy campaign in March. Brydon Carse will complete the three-pronged fast-bowling line-up for England, with Adil Rashid named as the specialist spinner.
England stick with in-form Smith as opener
In the batting order, the hosts have kept faith in the young wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith as Ben Duckett's opening partner, rewarding him for his 28-ball 64 in the final match of the West Indies series. Smith was also England’s second-highest run-getter during the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, a series where he scored a career-best 184 not out.
England's all-rounders include Will Jacks and 21-year-old Jacob Bethell, who is set to become England’s youngest captain when he leads the side in the T20I series against Ireland in September. Bethell scored a career-best 82 in the series opener against West Indies in May.
This will be Harry Brook's second ODI stint as full-time white-ball captain, having cleanswept West Indies 3-0 in May-June this year.
South Africa enter the series on the back of a 2-1 victory over Australia.
England playing XI for first ODI against South Africa
Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Sonny Baker
