South Africa Tour of England 2025 — Players to Watch

Discover the key players to watch in the England vs South Africa 2025 series. From debutant Matthew Breetzke to Joe Root’s experience, meet the stars who could define the contest.

Top Players to Watch

Player Team Role Why They Matter
Sonny Baker England Fast Bowler (debut ODI) Fresh from impressive performances in The Hundred, his swing and pace make him a major new-ball threat.
Joe Root England Top-order Batsman England’s most dependable batter with consistent scoring history; looks for a match-defining knock.
Jofra Archer England Fast Bowler When fit, adds strike power with yorkers and bounce; a potent weapon in death overs.
Kagiso Rabada South Africa Fast Bowler Big-match striker; though monitored for injury, his return could tilt momentum SA’s way.
Matthew Breetzke South Africa Top-order Batsman Started his ODI career with four 50+ scores—one of the hottest newcomers in international 50-over cricket.
Wiaan Mulder South Africa Seam All-rounder Offers seam movement and batting depth; brings balance to the bowling attack.
Ryan Rickelton South Africa Middle-order Batsman (Wk) His aggression and patient technique helped him score heavily early in his ODI career.

Why These Players Matter

  • Momentum makers: Newcomers like Baker and Breetzke could swing games with early breakthroughs or aggressive starts.
  • Established impact: Root and Archer bring experience that can stabilize or shift the match tide at crucial moments.
  • SA’s depth in action: Rabada’s return and Mulder’s dual-ability give Proteas multiple game plans in bowling.
  • Middle-order anchors: Rickelton and Root can hold innings together or accelerate when needed.

Stay tuned—our upcoming match recaps will feature updates on these players, performance highlights, and how they’re shaping this series.