Joe Root is in contention to make his 150th ODI appearance, he would become only the 7th man to record that many for England; he's also 38 away from reaching 6,000 runs in the format, he would become the second man to get there for England (Morgan).
Sam Billings (England) has scored 315 runs at an average of 78.8 across his six ODI knocks so far in 2020; he could only muster a rate of 22.6 before this calendar year in the format (12 innings).
Dwaine Pretorius (South Africa) has been ruled out of this series with England, he has not featured in a men's ODI since ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019; only Kemar Roach (65.5%) had a higher dot ball rate than Pretorius (63.6%) at that tournament (10+ overs bowled).
Among those to log 8+ knocks versus England, only two men (Michael Bevan & Lahiru Thirimanne) have ever registered a better men's ODI average against them than South Africa's Quinton de Kock (65.3); he struck a century when England last faced the Proteas at Newlands in this format (107 in February 2020).
Only Zimbabwe (66.7%) and Pakistan (71.4%) have lower catching success rates than South Africa and England in men's ODI games played during 2020, posting rates of 74.4% and 72.5% respectively.
South Africa have recorded victories in all six of their men's ODI matches against England at Newlands; they have successfully chased a target set for them by the tourists in their last two such fixtures at the Cape Town venue.
England have not suffered a multi-game bilateral men's ODI series defeat on the road since January 2017 (W4 D2) when they lost 2-1 against India; they come into these three games in South Africa having suffered a 2-1 series defeat last time out against Australia.
South Africa have a formidable record on home soil in men's ODI cricket, losing only once in their last 13 multi-game bilateral men's ODI series in South Africa: the Proteas winning on 11 occasions across that run (D1).
England have registered only one multi-game bilateral men's ODI series victory in South Africa against the Proteas (D1 L3); that sole success coming in 2009, winning that series 2-1.
South Africa have only managed to win one of their last six multi-game bilateral men's ODI series against England (D2 L3); these sides are facing off again in South Africa, they were involved in a 1-1 draw earlier this year (1 NR).