The downturn of England cricket in ODI's is concerning after their disastrous affair with South Africa at Headingley and issues in their white ball Trio. Bowled out for 131, England's lowest score at Headingley for almost 50 years, it was another collapse for the batting unit. After a familiar instance of cheap top order dismissals, the middle order batter were unable to rebuild, and the Proteas ambled to victory with little fuss. This loss follows a series of poor results since the 2023 ODI World Cup and failed Champions Trophy 2025. The batting order that once terrified opposition bowling units has become brittle and unable to adapt to the demands of ODI cricket. Aggressive batting and reckless dismissal might have more often than not worked in T20 cricket, but ODIs have the cloud of aggression, but require enough patience. England have struggled with this principle since the start of The ODI side.

See Also: India 2013 Champions Trophy winner retires from international cricket

The limited focus on domestic one-day cricket is, in part, to blame. With high-profile tournaments like The Hundred and subjecting players to T20 league cricket, there is almost no opportunity to develop an ODI mentality. When players are then put under sustained pressure from bowlers with relentless quality they have shown to be unprepared. And in terms of leadership, a change has not helped either. Jos Buttler's resignation from captaincy after two poor series, left a significant vacuum, and Harry Brook has been presented as a new beginning to address that vacuum, but the problems still exist. Brook's early success against the West Indies might have suggested a potential impact, but a total collapse at Headingley demonstrated deeper problems in the ODI landscape for England will remain for now.

New Leadership, Old Problems

Selecting Harry Brook as England's newest ODI captain was considered a brave step into the unknown. As a promising 26-year-old who is clearly brave and willing to honour his nation over county and franchise cricket, Brook is taking positive, aggressive and bold initiatives. He has already brought along the younger players Jamie Smith and Will Jacks, which displays a good focus on the future. Brook plays similar aggressive cricket that England played to be crowned world champions in 2019. However, the team faces some challenges that go beyond tactics. The current ODI side still has challenges with an inconsistent middle order and inflexible thinking. Many players are under-conditioned in ODIs to assess as compared to T20 cricket where hit-bang-wallop product effectiveness is key.  The England team do not use better judgment batting across 50 overs, so at Headingley, South Africa's spinners and seamers were able to expose that thinking and force hasty strokes and sub-standard shot selection decisions.

Brook himself acknowledged after the loss to South Africa that England needed to be "...a little more calculated" and that can't just be a quippy comment but must reflect the core issue - without balance between a desire and instinct to attack to play a more moderate form of the game, especially if there are no steady-eddies at the other end. Collapses are bound to be common against strong opposition. Another structural flaw is the inconsistent management and selection changes across the playing group. With Test specialists generally omitted and minimal ODI specialists in the squad, England has yet to land on a settled XI, and constant chopping and changing means rhythm and momentum at series and international level are impossible to build. 

Despite of all this, Brook’s leadership still provides some optimism - early results showed he can galvanize and energize a team and there is potential in his long term vision to start to rebuild. But unless England make systemic changes - provide more emphasis on domestic one-day competitions, develop ODI specialists, and reframe the way they naturally bat, they will likely continue to find themselves in these situations regularly. The collapse at Headingley is more than just one dire performance, it represents the desperate need for England to reset their ODI strategy. If Brook and his squad do not soon address these underlying structural issues, the golden era of England's white-ball championships will become a distant memory.

England (ENG) and South Africa (SA) will meet in the opening ODI of their three-match series at Headingley, Leeds, on Tuesday, September 2. The Proteas begin their white-ball tour of England with this series, and the contest promises exciting cricket. England’s last limited-overs assignment was against West Indies earlier this year, where the Harry Brook-led side dominated, sweeping both ODI and T20I series. With several players in rhythm after The Hundred, and the return of pace spearhead Jofra Archer, England look well-prepared to start strongly.

See Also: Dilshan Madushanka becomes 8th Sri Lankan to record ODI hat-trick

On the other hand, South Africa arrive with confidence, having recently sealed an ODI series victory against Australia. Although they lost the preceding T20I series 2-1, the team bounced back impressively in the 50-over format. The Proteas will be further boosted by the return of fast-bowling star Kagiso Rabada, who missed the last tour due to an ankle injury. With momentum and key players back, they aim to challenge the hosts in Leeds.

England vs South Africa, 1st ODI: Live Streaming Details

England vs South Africa, 1st ODI: Probable Playing XI

England (Probable Playing XI):

Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Joe Root, Harry Brook (captain), Jos Buttler, Jamie Smith (wk), Jacob Bethell, Rehan Ahmed, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker

South Africa (Probable Playing XI):

Ryan Rickelton (wk), Aiden Markram, Matthew Breetzke, Temba Bavuma (captain), Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka

Northern Superchargers had an excellent tournament so far, winning five out of seven matches and currently holding the third position in the points table. They won their last match by 16 runs against Oval Invincible.

On the other hand, Manchester Originals have secured just two victories and currently occupy the bottom position in the points table with eight points. They lost their last match by seven wickets against Birmingham Phoenix. 

NOS vs MNR Match Details

Date: 26th August, 2025

Time: 11:00 PM IST

Venue: Headingley, Leeds 

Live Streaming: Fancode  

NOS vs MNR Weather Report

Clear weather 

Also Read: The Hundred Women 2025: NOS-W vs MNR-W Prediction– Match 30, Who will win today?

Top Batters NOS vs MNR

• Zak Crawley (NOS) - 263 runs in this tournament 

• Jos Buttler (MNR) - 213 runs in this tournament 

• Harry Brook (NOS) - 201 runs this tournament 

Top Bowler NOS vs MNR

• Josh Tongue (MNR) - 12 wickets in this tournament

• Sonny Baker (MNR)  - 9 wickets in this tournament 

• Matthew Potts (NOS) - 9 wickets in this tournament 

NOS vs MNR Recent Performance

NOS vs MNR Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1- If NOS bats first

• First Innings score prediction-NOS is expected to score 170-185 runs

• Result prediction- NOS will win the match by 15-25 Runs 

Scenario 2- If MNR bats first

• First Innings score prediction- MNR is expected to score 150-160 runs.

• Result prediction- NOS will win the match by 5 wickets 

NOS vs MNR Predicted Playing XI

Northern Superchargers (NOS) Playing XI 

Zak Crawley, Dawid Malan, Michael-Kyle Pepper (wk), Harry Brook (c), Dan Lawrence, David Miller, Mitchell Santner, Tom Lawes, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Jacob Duffy.

Manchester Originals (MNR) Playing XI

Phil Salt (C), Ben McKinney, Jos Buttler (WK), Rachin Ravindra, Heinrich Klaasen, Matty Hurst, Lewis Gregory, Scott Currie, Noor Ahmad, Josh Tongue, Sonny Baker.

NOS vs MNR Complete Squad

Northern Superchargers - 

Harry Brook, David Miller, Adil Rashid, Zak Crawley, Mitchell Santner, Dan Lawrence, Brydon Carse, Ben Dwarshuis, Matthew Potts, Michael Pepper, Dawid Malan, Pat Brown, Graham Clark, Tom Lawes, James Fuller, Rocky Flintoff.

Manchester Originals -

Jos Buttler, Noor Ahmad, Phil Salt, Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand), Lewis Gregory, Ben McKinney, Heinrich Klaasen, George Garton, Matthew Hurst, Josh Tongue, Scott Currie, Tom Hartley, Sonny Baker, Tom Aspinwall, James Anderson, Marchant de Lange.

NOS vs MNR Today Match Prediction, Who Will Win the Match?

Northern Superchargers To win

We predict that Northern Superchargers will win this Hundred Men's match. Zak Crawley, Dawid Malan and Adil Rashid will be key players to watch out for.

This is a mid-table clash as Manchester are in sixth place currently, while Birmingham are one place above them. Both teams have eight points from six matches, and almost a similar net run rate as well. 

With each side looking to turn things around, this could be a tense battle for much-needed points. Manchester Originals have won two of the three clashes at Emirates Old Trafford this season.

MNR vs BPH Match Details

Date: 24th August, 2025

Time: 10:30 PM IST

Venue: Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester 

Live Streaming: Fancode  

MNR vs BPH Weather Report

Clear weather 

Also Read: The Hundred Women 2025: MNR-W vs BPH-W Prediction– Match 28, Who will win today?

Top Batters MNR vs BPH

• Liam Livingston (BPH) - 227 runs in this tournament 

• Jos Buttler (MNR) - 208 runs in this tournament 

• Joe Clarke (BPH) - 183 runs this tournament 

Top Bowler MNR vs BPH

• Josh Tongue (MNR) - 10 wickets in this tournament

• Sonny Baker (MNR)  - 8 wickets in this tournament 

• Scott Currie (MNR) - 8 wickets in this tournament 

MNR vs BPH Recent Performance

MNR vs BPH Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1- If MNR bats first

• First Innings score prediction-MNR is expected to score 165-175 runs

• Result prediction- MNR will win the match by 10-20 Runs 

Scenario 2- If BPH bats first

• First Innings score prediction- BPH is expected to score 140-150 runs.

• Result prediction- MNR will win the match by 5 wickets 

MNR vs BPH Predicted Playing XI

Manchester Originals (MNR) Playing XI 

Phil Salt (C), Ben McKinney, Jos Buttler (WK), Rachin Ravindra, Heinrich Klaasen, Matty Hurst, Lewis Gregory, Scott Currie, Noor Ahmad, Josh Tongue, Sonny Baker.

Birmingham Phoenix (BPH) Playing XI

Will Smeed, Ben Duckett, Joe Clarke (WK), Liam Livingstone (C), Jacob Bethell, Louis Kimber, Benny Howell, Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Chris Wood.

MNR vs BPH Complete Squad

Manchester Originals - 

Jos Buttler, Noor Ahmad, Phil Salt, Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand), Lewis Gregory, Ben McKinney, Heinrich Klaasen, George Garton, Matthew Hurst, Josh Tongue, Scott Currie, Tom Hartley, Sonny Baker, Tom Aspinwall, James Anderson, Marchant de Lange.

Birmingham Phoenix -

Liam Livingstone (captain), Ben Duckett, Trent Boult, Joe Clarke, Jacob Bethell, Adam Milne, Benny Howell, Tim Southee, Dan Mousley, Will Smeed, Chris Wood, Harry Moore, Tom Helm, Aneurin Donald, Liam Patterson-White, Louis Kimber.

MNR vs BPH Today Match Prediction, Who Will Win the Match?

Manchester Originals To win

We predict that Manchester Originals will win this Hundred Men's match. Jos Buttler, Josh Tongue and Scott Currie will be key players to watch out for.

Leadership in the shortest format is a scratchy job, and MS Dhoni, the former Indian captain, who earned the T20 World Cup 2007, was known for such instincts in the field, which could change the flow of the game instantly. One of the best aspects of his captaincy was the changes he used to make in the bowling attack and get wickets immediately.

The current Gujarat Titans opener and the former England captain, Jos Buttler, recently expressed that matchups were not part of the game in the past. He reckoned that Dhoni used to do the matchups back in the days, like he would bowl an off-spinner against the left-handed batter.

See Also: Former RCB star replaces injured Glenn Phillips for New Zealand’s first Test against Zimbabwe

‘Sometimes, in a sort of modern cricket, it gets a bit misconstrued that people talk about matchups. Be the word that everyone says on commentary, ‘oh, these are the matchups. It’s the modern thing.’ But back in the day, people just called that cricket knowledge. You know, I like Dhoni was doing matchups a while ago, back in the day, before it became. It’s like let’s just bowl an off-spinner at the left-hander.’ Buttler explained during a recent podcast with former pacer Stuart Broad.

Watch: GT star highlights MS Dhoni’s knowledge on leadership

Buttler, who has experience of 458 games in the T20s for 13055 runs at an average of 35.66 and a strike rate of 145.93, thanks to eight centuries and 93 half-centuries, explained how data would never be the combination of numbers only, but a mixture of experience and other staff.

'MS Dhoni sees things before it's happened. He is fountain of Knowledge' - Jos Buttler while talking about Match Ups in Cricket !! pic.twitter.com/0gwqN7kR3I

— 🎰 (@StanMSD) July 25, 2025

‘It’s not like match-ups. Back in the day, it might have worked. Date isn’t just numbers. Data can be experiences; it can be quantified in loads of different ways. People talk about Dhoni’s captaincy, and it’s like he sees things before they happen. He is the fountain of knowledge and data. There is a collaboration and some kind of conviction, and that’s where teams work very well.’ Buttler shed light.

The thing is very simple. For any captain, it’s about deciding on their own in the field. Matchups will stay there, but having the gut feeling of how the game is panning out on that very day and tweaking the plans around that would put him in the front seat. There could be mistakes, but there are lessons to learn.

In a significant shake-up ahead of the SAT20 2026 season, Durban Super Giants have pulled off a stunning double swoop pre-signing West Indies veteran Sunil Narine and England white-ball superstar Jos Buttler. Both marquee players come on board as pre-signed overseas recruits before the league’s mega auction, signaling DSG’s intent to dominate in the coming season.

Sunil Narine, long regarded as one of the most tactically intelligent T20 players, brings not just his unique bowling skills but also power-hitting credentials and captaincy experience. Speaking on his signing, Narine said, “Being invited to be part of the Super Giants family is an opportunity I value. I’ve heard great things about Mr. Goenka’s vision and the setup.” His addition gives DSG a versatile all-round option and a proven performer in high-pressure games.

Meanwhile, Jos Buttler’s move is seen as a massive coup. Having previously represented Paarl Royals, the English captain now shifts camps and becomes a centrepiece in Durban’s strategy. “I've had a great chat with Dr. Sanjiv Goenka and can’t wait to get stuck in with DSG,” Buttler said. His explosive starts at the top of the order and world-class finishing ability make him an ideal fit for the franchise.

Delighted to have @Heini22 and @noor_ahmad_15 continuing as key members of the @DurbansSG family, and a warm welcome to @josbuttler and Sunil Narine. Looking forward to the auction and an exciting season ahead. #SA20 #DSG pic.twitter.com/ImFPgErbYS

— Dr. Sanjiv Goenka (@DrSanjivGoenka) July 23, 2025

ALSO SEE: [WATCH] Kane Williamson celebrates maiden Country Championship 2025 century for Middlesex

DSG Flex Their Muscles with Star Signings and Key Retentions Ahead of SAT20 Auction

The franchise isn’t stopping at just overseas firepower. They’ve retained South African wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen as their wildcard pick, an aggressive middle-order option who has been a consistent performer for DSG. Afghan left-arm spinner Noor Ahmad, another match-winner in the shortest format, has also been retained.

This aggressive pre-auction strategy sends a clear message to the rest of the league: Durban’s Super Giants are building a squad that blends experience, firepower, and tactical flexibility. With Narine and Buttler joining Klaasen and Noor Ahmad, DSG’s core is shaping up to be one of the strongest heading into the 2026 season. The SAT20 auction is still to come, but DSG has already drawn first blood, and the rest of the league will be watching closely.

It’s not new to someone who knows cricket in India. Going to any small localities or slums, there is a requirement for a bat and ball, and the game is on. Whether it’s beside a building, a small premises, or anywhere, there is joy. This is the sport that binds the entire country and its various characters. 

In a recent documentary by the BBC, called ‘Abhishek Bachchan: Cricket, India & Me’, various players, Jos Buttler, Mitali Raj, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, have joined the famous Bollywood actor, Abhishek Bachchan, in shedding light on how cricket can be a force for good in India.

See Also: [WATCH] Andre Russell gets guard of honour on retirement from International cricket

‘On that field, everybody is equal, and it’s how good you are at that sport. A lot of that has been highlighted and has increased after, say, the IPL (Indian Premier League) started.’ Junior Bachchan expressed in a video posted by the BBC.

Watch: Yashasvi Jaiswal and Mitali Raj discuss cricket’s growing popularity in India

‘Crocket certainly feels like a great social leveller in India. I think there are some incredible success stories that you hear (of) Yashasvi Jaiswal, Chetan Sakariya, and two great examples in the Rajasthan Royals of how cricket has completely changed their lives.’ Jos Buttler, the former England captain, who has been a regular member of the IPL since 2018, addressed.

🇮🇳 Cricket in India can be a huge force for good.

A new @BBCiPlayer documentary looks at the impact our sport can have. Hear from:

🎙 @juniorbachchan
🎙 @SrBachchan
🎙 @josbuttler
🎙 @ybj_19
🎙 @JemiRodrigues
🎙 @M_Raj03

'Abhishek Bachchan: Cricket, India & Me' on iPlayer. pic.twitter.com/bnofGwnvav

— Test Match Special (@bbctms) July 22, 2025

‘Of course, it’s not easy for a poor village to come to Mumbai and be with the smart kids in Mumbai because you feel nervous, you don’t know how to speak English, you don’t know anything because you are not educated that much, and they will keep teasing you as a kid. It’s hard.’ The Indian opening batter, Yashasvi Jaiswal, shed light.

‘You have all sorts of players coming from different parts of the country. At the end, the talent and the performance speak louder and in that sense, I think cricket is a social leveller.’ The former captain of the India women’s cricket team, Mitali Raj, expressed in the video. Apart from these members, Amitabh Bachchan and Jamimah Rodrigues are also part of the video, where they discuss the rise of the game in India over the years, especially after the start of the IPL.   

The former England white-ball captain, Jos Buttler, who resigned from the leadership after the end of a poor campaign in the Champions Trophy 2025, has celebrated an epic record in the shortest format of the game during the second-last group-stage clash for Lancashire against Yorkshire in the T20 Blast contest at Leeds in Headingley.

Buttler has been a successful performer with the bat in various T20 leagues around the globe. Since his resumption in the IPL, he has been a regular and vital member of the Rajasthan Royals and later on the Gujarat Titans. The England batter has smashed overall 4120 runs in 119 innings at an average of 40 and a strike rate of nearly 150, thanks to seven centuries and 24 fifties at the best score of 124 runs.

See Also: Star player ruled out as New Zealand suffer major setback in T20I Tri-series

In the recent season, the right-handed batter clubbed 538 runs in 13 innings at an average of nearly 60 and a strike rate of 163, with five fifties. The Taunton-born becomes the second England batter to celebrate 13000 runs in the T20s, alongside the former opener, Alex Hales. Buttler now has drilled 13046 runs in 431 innings at a strike rate of 145.97, thanks to 93 fifties and eight centuries at the best score of 124.

Jos Buttler celebrates epic milestone of 13000 T20 runs during T20 Blast 2025

Buttler walked out to bat in the fourth over of the innings when the Roses lost their captain, Keaton Jennings, for seven runs. Phil Salt smashed 42 runs in 29 balls, but none of the batters were able to give a good hand to the former national captain, who kept nailing the boundaries from one end.

Player. 😎🔥 @josbuttler

Last night, Jos Buttler became only the second English player to pass 13,000 career T20 runs. 🌹👏

⚡ #StrikeTogether pic.twitter.com/DoJgpKu66n

— Lancashire Lightning (@lancscricket) July 18, 2025

Buttler finished with 77 runs in 46 balls against the Dawid Malan-led side to carry them to 174 in 19.5 overs. The home side was never in the chase from the start and got rolled over for 153 runs in 19.1 overs, with only Pakistan’s Abdullah Shafique collecting a fine knock of 54 runs in 34 balls at a strike rate of 158.82. With the victory, Lancashire qualifies for the home quarter-final of the tournament.

Buttler becomes the seventh cricketer to breach 13000 T20 runs. The topper of the list is the left-handed West Indies opener, Chris Gayle, who has smashed 14562 runs. Alex Hales is third on the list with 13814 runs.

England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler recently highlighted how data is transforming T20 cricket, using Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Tim David as a prime example. Speaking on the 'For The Love Of Cricket' podcast, Buttler explained that although David may never win the Orange Cap, his value lies in his impactful cameos. “Someone like Tim David had an exceptional season with RCB. He’s never going to be an Orange Cap winner. But the impact in those 10 balls he faces—these are the sort of things. How data has affected T20 cricket,” Buttler said.

David was signed by RCB in the IPL 2025 mega auction for ₹3 crore and went on to score 187 runs from nine innings. While the total may appear modest, his average of 62.33 and explosive strike rate of 185.14 proved crucial for the franchise. His ability to finish games and play high-impact roles in limited deliveries shows how data now evaluates players beyond traditional milestones like runs or wickets.

During the same conversation, RCB analyst Freddie Wilde spoke about the behind-the-scenes contributions of Dinesh Karthik. Acting as batting coach and mentor, Karthik also made real-time fielding adjustments, similar to a football manager’s style. “In one game against Chennai, he moved the third man fractionally finer, and the ball pretty much went to that guy the next ball,” Wilde recalled. He credited RCB captain Rajat Patidar’s openness to tactical tweaks as a key factor in their success.

Watch the video here

See Also: Watch: Is this the craziest cricket shot ever played?

Buttler, McCullum, and the instinct-over-data philosophy

Jos Buttler also shed light on how England Test coach Brendon McCullum uses a different approach—relying less on analytics. “Baz is a really clever coach... He’s more of a feel coach. He likes to create a vibe and an atmosphere,” Buttler said. Freddie Wilde echoed the sentiment, saying McCullum prefers players to go out with an “uncluttered mind” and use their instincts.

Currently, England is leading India 2-1 in a gripping five-match Test series at home, and the debate over instinct versus data continues to shape the modern game.

Durham lost their last match by 7 Wickets against Nottinghamshire. Their bowling unit failed to defend the target of 157 runs. James Neesham was the standout performer for Durham, scoring 29 runs and also picked up a wicket.

On the other hand, Lancashire lost their last match by 19 runs against Yorkshire. They currently hold the second position on the points table with 28 points.

LAN vs DUR Match Details

Date: July 13th, 2025

Time: 7:30 PM IST

Venue: Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester 

Live Streaming: Fancode  

LAN vs DUR Weather Report

Clear weather and a nice evening are expected for the game.

Also Read: GSL T20 2025: HUR vs RAN Prediction– Match 5, Who will win today?

Top Batters LAN vs DUR

• Keaton Jennings (LAN) - 342 runs in this tournament

• Graham Clark (DUR) - 308 runs in this tournament

• Alex Lees (DUR) - 293 runs in this tournament 

Top Bowler LAN vs DUR

• James Anderson (LAN) - 13 wickets in this tournament 

• Jimmy Neesham (DUR) - 18 wickets in this tournament

• Ben Raine (DUR) - 16 wickets in this tournament

LAN vs DUR Recent Performance

LAN vs DUR Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1- If DUR bats first

• First Innings score prediction- DUR is expected to score 155-170 runs

• Result prediction- LAN will win the match by 6 Wickets.

Scenario 2- If LAN bats first

• First Innings score prediction- LAN is expected to score 190-205 runs.

• Result prediction- LAN will win the match by 25-30 Runs

LAN vs DUR Predicted Playing XI

Lancashire (LAN) Playing XI 

Phil Salt, Ashton Turner, Keaton Jennings, Jos Buttler, Michael Jones, Luke Wells, Tom Hartley, Blatherwick, Luke Wood, James Anderson, Chris Green.

Durham (DUR) Playing XI

Alex Lees (captain), Graham Clark, Ben McKinney, Colin Ackermann, Oliver Robinson (wk), Will Rhodes, James Neesham, Kasey Aldridge, Matthew Potts, Nathan Sowter, Callum Parkinson

LAN vs DUR Today Match Prediction, Who Will Win the Match?

Lancashire To win

We predict that Lancashire will be winning this English T20 Blast match. The likes of Keaton Jennings,  Phil salt and Jos Buttler will be key players to watch out for.