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Trent Bridge: In their contrasting styles, England and South Africa have each displayed two sides to their Twenty20 character in the opening rounds of this competition.
England veered from complacency in their first-night humiliation against the Dutch to determination in their subsequent demolition of Pakistan; South Africa steamrolled Scotland by 130 runs on Sunday, then struggled to manage even a run a ball against New Zealand.
The subtle difference, of course, is that even when South Africa were off the boil, they still managed to emerge victorious. Graeme Smith's men have been on a roll during a memorable year on the road, and as the end of their odyssey draws nigh, they've forged themselves a unit that can cope with all conditions.
AB de Villiers is a fearsome striker of a cricket ball. In first match against minnow Scotland on Sunday, his 79 not out included 11 boundaries from 34 deliveries, six of which sailed clean over the ropes.
He may be rattling with painkillers, but Kevin Pietersen is also rattling with resolve. His dodgy Achilles was not risked against the Dutch, but with their tournament on the line, England had not option but to whistle their main man back off the bench against Pakistan. He did not disappoint with 58 from 38 balls, an innings that included a vast drilled six over long-off.
Team news
England After foolishly omitting most of their kingpin players against the Dutch, England didn't come close to repeating that mistake against Pakistan. It seems fair to assume that they'll pick something approaching the same line-up again, with perhaps Adil Rashid dipping out in favour of Ryan Sidebottom (or, conceivably, Graham Napier) if the Trent Bridge wicket is deemed to favour the pacemen.
West Indies Curious selection scuppered their prospects on home soil at the 2007 World Twenty20, but South Africa have picked their most potent line-up available this time around. From Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis through to de Villiers and Albie Morkel, they have batsmen for all occasions, and in Dale Steyn, Johan Botha and Wayne Parnell, bowlers for all conditions.
Pitch and conditions
A firm and true surface has been prepared at Trent Bridge - firm enough for Sanath Jayasuriya to swipe 81 from 47 balls in Sri Lanka's victory over West Indies - but it is the overhead conditions that will be of most interest to the bowlers. With further filthy weather anticipated overnight, swing may be the thing for bowlers on both sides.
Stats and Trivia
England and South Africa have only faced each other once in T20Is internationals - at the 2007 World Twenty20, when Albie Morkel's late acceleration proved the difference between the sides. They did have another match scheduled for August 2008, but that was rained off.
Match facts
Thursday June 10, 2009 (day/night)
Start time 17.30 local, 16.30GMT
