ENG vs SA: Hampshire pacer Sonny Baker set to make international debut as ECB announces England's playing XI for first ODI against South Africa sesd

Hampshire speedster Sonny Baker is set to make his international debut as the England Cricket Board (ECB) announces England's playing XI for the first ODI against South Africa, which will take place on Tuesday. England are scheduled to play a three-match ODI series against the Proteas.

Sonny Baker was added to England's national squad after an impressive outing in the county for England Lions and with Manchester Originals in The Hundred in recent months.

He has joined Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse in the bowling lineup, as well as spinner Adil Rashid, on his home ground.

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The hosts will see Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett open the batting against the Proteas in the series opener. Joot Root, who is coming after a memorable Test series against India, will bat at number three. Root was England's highest run-getter in the five-Test match series of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 against India.

Notably, England have included only one specialist spinner in the Three Lions' line-up against the Temba Bavuma-led side.

The upcoming three-match ODI series will be England's first assignment after the five-Test match series of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 against India. which ended 2-2 draw.

The upcoming series against South Africa will be Brook's second outing as a full-time white-ball captain. England recently faced the West Indies in the white-ball series, where they won all six matches, three ODIs and three T20S under Brook's captaincy. England are building towards the 2027 50-over World Cup, after three disappointing outings in the global events in a row. There is also a T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in February next year.

"We're trying to create an environment where we're working towards something, like [World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan] Morgs did when he took over years ago," Brook said as quoted by BBC.

"South Africa will be a new challenge to play against, slightly different to West Indies, and we've got to try and assess situations and execute our skills as well as we can."

England playing XI for 1st ODI vs South Africa: Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethel, Will Jacks, Bryson Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Sonny Baker.

England are hosting South Africa for three ODIs and as many T20Is from September 2 to 14.