ICC Cricket World Cup LIVE: ENG vs SA

Both South Africa and England look anxious ahead of their ICC Cricket World Cup Group B tie on Sunday.

The past World Cup encounters between these two teams suggest little as to who is the favourite going into the match. Out of the five encounters, the Proteas have come out on top on three occasions while England have emerged victorious twice. The overall head-to-head also fails to give any definite answer. Out of the 44 ODIs, the South Africans have taken 23 games as opposed to England's 18.

The Proteas captain Graeme Smith said ahead of the match on Saturday that his side won't make the mistake of taking the English team lightly.

"In this tournament, England have not been at their best but that does not make them any less threatening. We have had some great encounters in the past, and in the last couple of years they have been a better team than us. So we cannot go into the match with complacency."

"It's true their bowlers have not been doing as well as you would expect them to do but they all are top-class bowlers and can hit back any time, so we have to be cautious tomorrow," he added.

Meanwhile, England captain Andrew Strauss, following embarrassing defeat to minnows Ireland earlier this week, admitted it was high time they did well in the bowling department.

"This has been the lesson for us in the last few days. If we do not bowl well we are going to lose," he said.

"James Anderson and Stuart Broad have been our best bowlers in recent times. They have not been impressive so far but we back them to do well on Sunday," he added.

The Chidambaram Stadium's pitch has no traces of grass and is hard and dry at the same time, leading many to believe that another run-fest is in prospect.

Undefeated in their first two matches, South Africa may again go in with three spinners, a strategy that has worked wonders for them so far. Their fast-bowling, spearheaded by Dale Steyn, too has been on the button.

However, it's a different story for England. They have won just once in their three encounters and the most worrying thing for them is that their bowling is at sixes and sevens right now. There cannot be a better time than this to change all that.

TEAMS

England (from): AJ Strauss (captain), KP Pietersen, IJL Trott, IR Bell, PD Collingwood, MJ Prior (wkt), MH Yardy, TT Bresnan, SCJ Broad, GP Swann, JM Anderson, RS Bopara, A Shahzad, LJ Wright, JC Tredwell

South Africa (from): GC Smith (captain), HM Amla, JH Kallis, AB de Villiers (wkt), JP Duminy, F du Plessis, RJ Peterson, J Botha, M Morkel, DW Steyn, I Tahir, MN van Wyk, WD Parnell, CA Ingram, LL Tsotsobe

Umpires: S Taufel (Aus) and A Saheba (Ind)

Third umpire: A de Silva (SL)

Match referee: J Crowe (NZ)

England vs South Africa in ODIs/World Cup

ODIs

South Africa have won 23 and lost 18 out of 44 played (NR 2 & Tied 1) against England - winning % 55.95. For England, the winning % is 44.04.

World Cup

South Africa have won three and lost two out of five played against England. Winning % for South Africa is 60.00.

The last three games have been won by South Africa - one each in 1996, 1999 and 2007.

Overall World Cup

South Africa have won 27 and lost 13 out of 42 contested (Tied 2) - winning % 66.66.

England have won 37 and lost 23 out of 62 contested (Tied 1 NR 1) - winning % 61.47.

Approaching milestones

- Abraham de Villiers, in case of a hundred against England, would create history in ODIs as well as World Cup.

- Having posted hundreds in his previous two innings in the present competition, he would be the first to register three centuries in successive innings in the world cup in case he registers another hundred.

- Cricket history would be created in case of his hundred. Having already accomplished the feat last year by scoring 114 not out against India at Gwalior on February 24, 102 not out against India at Ahmedabad on February 27 and 102 against West Indies at North Sound on May 22, he would be the first batsman to register three successive centuries twice in ODIs.

- Jacques Kallis (929 at an average of 46.45) needs 71 runs to become the second South African to complete 1,000 runs at the world cup. Herschelle Gibbs (1067) is the only South African to register 1,000 runs at the WC.

- Ian Bell (2959) needs 41 runs to complete his 3,000 runs in ODIs.