On Wednesday, Sam Curran was recalled to the England team against South Africa for the first match of the T20 series in Cardiff. This is the first time the all-rounder will play under the guidance of head coach Brendon McCullum. He last played against the West Indies in November 2024.

Curran, who is 27 years old, was a late inclusion in the squad after a stellar Hundred performance for the Oval Invincibles, where he scored 238 runs and took 12 wickets. England missed a fast-bowling allrounder in the ODI series won 2-1 by the Proteas.

Spinners Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks played the role of fifth bowler in this series. Both have been included in the playing XI, with Bethell batting at number three and Curran at number five. However, England had shown flexibility in their batting order during the ODIs as left-handed Bethell was sent in to target South Africa's left-arm spin bowlers.

Jamie Overton and Jofra Archer are the other fast bowlers in the squad, along with leg-spinner Adil Rashid and left-arm spinner Liam Dawson. According to a BBC report, opener Phil Salt is also making a comeback, having missed the West Indies series due to paternity leave earlier in the summer.

England playing 11 for first T20- Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Jacob Bethell, Harry Brooke (captain), Sam Curran, Tom Banton, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Joffra Archer, Adil Rashid.