England and South Africa clash in the opening match of their three-match ODI series at Headingley. Both teams enter this series with a win – England coming off a 3-0 victory over the West Indies at home, while South Africa successfully claimed their ODI series against Australia 2-1, despite a heavy defeat in the final match, where several key players were rested.
England vs South Africa 1st ODI Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Competition | England vs South Africa ODI Series 2025 (1st ODI) |
| Date | Tuesday, September 2, 2025 |
| Time | 1:00 PM Local |
| Venue | Headingley Cricket Ground, Leeds |
Recent Form Analysis
England (Last 5 ODI Matches)
| Match | Opposition | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd ODI vs West Indies | West Indies | Won | 7 wickets |
| 2nd ODI vs West Indies | West Indies | Won | 3 wickets |
| 1st ODI vs West Indies | West Indies | Won | 238 runs |
| Champions Trophy | Afghanistan | Lost | 8 runs |
| Champions Trophy | South Africa | Lost | 7 wickets |
South Africa (Last 5 ODI Matches)
| Match | Opposition | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd ODI vs Australia | Australia | Lost | 276 runs |
| 2nd ODI vs Australia | Australia | Won | 84 runs |
| 1st ODI vs Australia | Australia | Won | 98 runs |
| Champions Trophy Semi-Final | New Zealand | Lost | 50 runs |
| Champions Trophy | England | Won | 7 wickets |
England have found their rhythm with a dominant home series win, while South Africa comes into this series as the victors of their recent Australia tour, having won the series 2-1.
Head-to-Head Record England vs SA (Last 5 ODI Meetings)
| Date | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 1, 2025 | Karachi | South Africa won by 7 wickets |
| Oct 21, 2023 | Mumbai | South Africa won by 229 runs |
| Feb 1, 2023 | Kimberley | England won by 59 runs |
| Jan 29, 2023 | Bloemfontein | South Africa won by 5 wickets |
| Jan 27, 2023 | Bloemfontein | South Africa won by 27 runs |
South Africa leads the recent head-to-head record 4-1, including their most recent encounter in the Champions Trophy where they comfortably chased down England’s modest total of 179.
Headingley Pitch Analysis for England vs South Africa 1st ODI (September 1, 2025)
Headingley is traditionally considered a bowling-friendly pitch, particularly favoring fast bowlers in the early stages. The venue offers early movement and bounce, especially in overcast conditions, making it challenging for batsmen to settle initially. However, after the first power play or around the 18-20 overs mark, the pitch will start getting easier for Batsmen.
Key Pitch Statistics:
- 44 ODI matches played
- Teams bowling first have won 26 times vs 18 batting first
- Average first innings score: 234 runs
- Average second innings score: 228 runs
- Highest total: England 351/9
- Lowest total: England 93/10
- Toss Factor: The team winning the toss would likely choose to bowl first to exploit the early bowling conditions.
- Predicted Score Range: 240-280 runs
Players to Watch
England
 |  |  |
| Harry Brook | Jofra Archer | Joe Root |
- Harry Brook: The new captain will be important in setting the aggressive tone for England’s batting.
- Jofra Archer: His workload will be carefully managed, but when fit, he remains England’s premier pace bowler with the ability to trouble any batting lineup.
- Joe Root: The experienced campaigner provides stability and his part-time spin could be valuable in the middle overs.
South Africa
 |  |  |  |
| Temba Bavuma | Aiden Markram | Keshav Maharaj | Kagiso Rabada |
- Temba Bavuma: The captain brings experience and leadership to a side that showed excellent form in winning the series against Australia.
- Aiden Markram: A reliable top-order batter who can anchor the innings and accelerate when needed, particularly impressive during the Australia tour.
- Kagiso Rabada: Returns to the squad after missing the Australia tour and his pace and experience will be important in English conditions.
- Keshav Maharaj: The left-arm spinner’s control and variations could be effective.
England have refreshed their squad under Brook’s captaincy, with Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone notably absent. Young talents like Jacob Bethell, Rehan Ahmed, and Sonny Baker have been included to prepare for future challenges.
South Africa welcome back Kagiso Rabada but are without Heinrich Klaasen (retired) and David Miller (rested). However, the core group that secured the series victory in Australia remains intact, providing confidence and momentum.
The contest between England’s aggressive batting approach and South Africa’s experienced bowling attack will be fun. South Africa’s ability to handle England’s attacking intent early on, particularly from the likes of Brook and Jacks, could determine the match’s outcome.
Who Will Win Today’s Match Betwen Eng vs SA (1st ODI)
While South Africa comes into this series with momentum from their Australia victory and holds a superior recent head-to-head record, there are no clear favorites. England’s home advantage and knowledge of local conditions could prove decisive, but South Africa’s more experienced top order and recent success make them equally capable of taking the opener.
- Prediction: SA to win by 15-20 runs
With South Africa’s current form and England’s unpredictable new approach, this promises to be a closely contested match that could go either way.