The Proteas have won the toss and have elected to bat first in the first T20 international against England in Southampton.
On a batting track, under clear skies, De Villiers has opted to bat first. England captain Eoin Morgan said he didn’t mind what his side did.
The Proteas will look to extend their 7-4 record over England, but it was the English who had their say the last time they met in a thrilling encounter in the group stages of last year’s World T20.
Tabraiz Shamsi and Dwaine Pretorius come in to make his debut for the Proteas, while JJ Smuts, Reeza Hendricks and Mangaliso Mosehle make their first international appearance in England. Untested leg-spinner Mason Crane makes his debut for England.
AB de Villiers:
‘We want to win, and we’ve got the fireworks in our side to do so.’
‘It’s disappointing to miss the Test series, but it will be nice to spend some time at home with the wife having a second baby.’
PROTEAS: JJ Smuts, Reeza Hendricks, AB de Villiers, David Miller, Farhaan Behardien, Mangaliso Mosehle, Wayne Parnell, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Imran Tahir
ENGLAND: Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Jonny Bairstow, Eoin Morgan, Jos Buttler, Sam Billings, Liam Dawson, Chris Jordan, Mason Crane, David Willey, Mark Wood
ALSO READ: England vs Proteas: T20 series preview
Photo: Steve Barden/Getty Images
