Curran's Back! England vs SA T20 Showdown in Cardiff!

Sam Curran makes a triumphant return to the England T20 squad for the series opener against South Africa in Cardiff! This marks Curran's first appearance under head coach Brendon McCullum, a moment fans have eagerly awaited since his last showing against the West Indies in November 2024.

Curran's Hundred Heroics Earns Recall

The 27-year-old all-rounder secured his spot after a phenomenal Hundred campaign with Oval Invincibles, smashing 238 runs and snagging 12 wickets. England felt the absence of a seam-bowling all-rounder during the ODI series against the Proteas, where spinners Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks shared the fifth bowler responsibilities.

England's Lineup and Strategy

Both Bethell and Jacks are included in the starting XI for the T20 clash. Bethell is slated to bat at number three, while Curran will slot in at five. England demonstrated batting order flexibility during the ODIs, strategically deploying the left-handed Bethell to counter South Africa's left-arm spin.

• England XI: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (capt), Sam Curran, Tom Banton, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid.

Jamie Overton and Jofra Archer bolster the pace attack, complemented by leg-spinner Adil Rashid and left-arm spinner Liam Dawson. Opener Phil Salt also returns, having missed the West Indies series due to paternity leave. Can England secure a win against a strong South African side? Tune in to find out!

Coverage details: Ball-by-ball radio commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds. In-play video clips and text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app. Highlights on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two each night.