Is this the start of a special year for England’s cricketers?
The Royal London One-Day International series against South Africa begins at Headingley later today, the start of a long summer of international cricket.
England face off against the Proteas as both sides gear up for the ICC Champions Trophy next month – a tournament both sides will have aspirations of winning.
After that there is the Test series before the back-end of the summer brings the West Indies, first in Tests & then limited-overs cricket including the ICC World T20 rematch at Emirates Riverside.
But first Eoin Morgan’s side will finalise their Champions Trophy preparations, with many making England among the tournament favourites on home turf.
It isn’t without reason either. With a balanced squad full of explosive batsmen & strike bowlers capable of taking wickets at any time, England are perhaps better equipped to go on better than 2013’s final, where they were beaten against India.
They also have superstar Ben Stokes in their ranks, the world’s best all-rounder fresh from his stint as Most Valuable Player in this year’s Indian Premier League.
The Durham talisman scored 318 runs & took 12 wickets in the tournament, scoring a dramatic unbeaten hundred in the win against the Gujarat Lions. He also managed some of the tournament’s finest catches in the field.
He is expected to feature at Headingley after arriving back in time for England’s training camp in Spain.
There is no shortage of fireworks in the batting line-up while Mark Wood adds extra firepower to the bowling with his 90-mph rockets.
But the South Africans have match-winners of their own including the evergreen AB de Villiers & Quinton de Kock, the explosive opening batsman who notched a ton against Sussex in the opening tour game.
The short three-match series concludes shortly before the Champions Trophy kicks off on 1 June when England take on Bangladesh.
Watch England at Emirates Riverside on Saturday, 16 September as they take on the West Indies in a rematch of the ICC World T20 final in April last year. Over 60% of tickets have now been sold for the match & remaining tickets are available here or by calling the Box Office on 0844 499 4466.