At last, Jonny set for key call

AB de Villiers will lead South Africa in their three-match Twenty20 series against England in the absence of Faf du Plessis.

The latter has returned home, after South Africa’s early Champions Trophy exit, to attend the birth of his first child but is hoping to return in time for the opening Investec Test against England at Lord’s on July 6.

One-day international captain De Villiers, who will not be available for the Test series, will therefore step in for this month’s Twenty20s - in charge of a 14-man squad minus several regulars and featuring one player yet to be capped in the sprint format, Dwaine Pretorius.

Cricket South Africa selector Linda Zondi said: “I would like to thank Farhaan Behardien for leading the side so ably in the recent series against Sri Lanka.

“We are indeed fortunate in the quality of our team leaders, and Farhaan remains very much part of this group.”

Test stars Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy and Kagiso Rabada are all rested for the Twenty20 series.

Zondi added: “We have also been impressed as a panel by the quality of players coming through our franchise and South Africa A system and we are ready to give further opportunities to Andile Phehlukwayo, Mangaliso Mosehle, Jon-Jon Smuts and Dane Paterson - who all made their debuts recently.”

South Africa Twenty20 squad: AB de Villiers (Captain), F Behardien, R Hendricks, I Tahir, D Miller, M Morkel, C Morris, M Mosehle (wkt), W Parnell, D Paterson, A Phehlukwayo, D Pretorius, T Shamsi, JJ Smuts. PAKISTAN captain Sarfraz Ahmed is wary of the threat posed by England ahead of today’s Champions Trophy semi-final in Cardiff.

Pakistan progressed after claiming a nail-biting threewicket win against Sri Lanka at Cardiff Wales Stadium, with Sarfraz undefeated on 61 as he compiled an unbroken eighth-wicket partnership of 75 with Mohammad Amir to see his team home. When they slumped from 92-1 to 137-6 in pursuit of 237 for victory, Pakistan looked down and out, but Sarfraz - despite being dropped twice ensured a return to the Welsh capital.

“I think it’s a great win for us and credit goes to the bowlers, who bowled really well at a crucial time,” Sarfraz said.

“Yes, there is a little bit of ENGLAND are considering jettisoning out-of-form opener Jason Roy and bringing in Jonny Bairstow for their Champions Trophy semi-final against Pakistan at Cardiff.

Roy’s place at the top of the order has appeared in jeopardy after a dreadful run that has seen him make just 51 runs in eight one-day international innings this summer.

And ahead of the crunch fixture in the Welsh capital today, it is a trough England and captain Eoin Morgan may no longer overlook - even though they won all three of their group stage matches to breeze into the last four.

Morgan said: “There’s a chance we could make a change. Obviously, we won’t announce the team until the toss, but there’s a chance there could be a change.

“Getting to this stage of the tournament, we need results, and if that means somebody misses out, it’s unfortunate, but for the team’s sake, we need to get results. We want to win this tournament.”

Morgan has continually backed the usually bombastic Roy, hailing him concern about the middle order batting, but we will sort out the problems.

“England is a very good team, a very, very good team. They’ve been playing really good cricket for the last two years. If you are playing a world-class team, definitely, you play more positive cricket against England. So definitely, we will do so against England more positively.” as one of the pillars of England’s resurgence in the 50-over format in the two years since their shocking World Cup display.

While he impressed in India and the West Indies over the winter - with four half-centuries in seven matches - he has registered six single-figure scores in his last eight ODIs and a highest total of only 20.

And the writing seemed to be on the wall for the 26-year-old when he was seen fielding on the boundary on yesterday morning as Bairstow emerged as one of the first to bat in the nets in England’s final practice.

Bairstow is unaccustomed to the new white ball with England, but he has taken on the role at Yorkshire this summer and proved his pedigree by flaying Durham for a List A-best of 174 from 113 balls.

The 27-year-old is an automatic first-choice in the Test set-up but has often had to wait for someone to be injured or rested to be included in the limited-overs sides.

His tenacity in attempting to force his way into the reckoning has impressed Morgan and - on the back of three fifties in his last four ODI innings - may seem him parachuted

Pakistan, meanwhile, were fined for a slow over-rate after they were ruled to be one over short of the target when time allowances were taken into consideration.

Sarfraz was fined 20 per cent of his match fee, while his players have received 10 per cent fines. Sarfraz pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so a formal hearing was not required. in to partner Hales in this semi-final.

Morgan added: “Jonny is a fantastic batsman. I think his best attribute, certainly in white-ball cricket over the last year and a half, has been his relentless attitude to score runs regardless of the situation.

“When you have guys sitting on the sideline, they can get a little bit upset,

If there is a second minor over-rate offence committed by Pakistan during the event with Sarfraz as captain, he will be suspended for one match.

Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews was left to rue his team’s dropped catches as Pakistan squeezed into the tournament’s last four.

“If we had held those catches, it would have been a different story,” he said. and that can affect their performance when the actual chance comes along, but that doesn’t seem to affect Jonny.

“I’d have no worries if he has to open the batting. I certainly believe we’re in a good position at the moment as a batting unit, and if Jonny does get the opportunity, I’m sure he’ll take it with both hands.”