Cricket South Africa (CSA) has unveiled the squads for the Proteas Women’s upcoming series against England, set to take place from November 24 to December 11 across several South African cities including East London, Benoni, and Durban. The highly anticipated series, which features both T20 International (T20I) and ICC Women’s Championship (IWC) One-Day International (ODI) matches, marks a pivotal opportunity for the Proteas Women to showcase their skills and strengthen their position in the championship standings.
Highlighting the significance of this tour, the Proteas will also face England in a landmark Test match at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein from December 15 to 18. This encounter will be historic as it represents the first Women’s Test held in South Africa since March 2002. The squad for this much-awaited match will be announced later during the white-ball series.
The T20I squad features 14 players, including key additions such as allrounders Eliz-Mari Marx and Nondumiso Shangase, as well as Faye Tunnicliffe, who returns to international cricket after a two-year hiatus. This comes as part of CSA’s strategy to give opportunities to emerging talents, filling the gaps left by Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka, who have been rested. Additionally, Mieke de Ridder and young Seshnie Naidu, who will be focused on her academic and U19 commitments, are also absent from this series.
In the ODI squad, fast bowler Ayanda Hlubi makes her return, joining experienced players like Lara Goodall and Masabata Klaas, who missed out on the recent T20 World Cup. The Proteas Women’s IWC campaign is crucial as they aim to solidify their spot in the ICC Women’s Championship standings, where they currently sit fourth with 23 points. With only three matches left in the series, the Proteas need to perform at their best to secure automatic qualification for the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.
Proteas Women’s interim head coach Dillon du Preez expressed optimism while acknowledging the challenge of playing against a strong England side. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the momentum gained during the recent T20 World Cup and underscored the need to refine the team's T20 approach while providing new players an opportunity to prove their mettle.
Convenor of Selectors Clinton du Preez also highlighted the strategic importance of the selections, pointing out that players like Faye Tunnicliffe and Nondumiso Shangase have shown promise in domestic and national camps, making them valuable additions for this series. Du Preez expressed confidence in the squad’s potential to deliver strong performances, particularly on home soil.
The matches, which will be accessible to fans both at stadiums and through broadcasts on SuperSport and SABC, offer an exciting prospect for cricket enthusiasts. The T20I matches kick off on November 24 at Buffalo Park in East London, followed by fixtures in Benoni and Tshwane. The ODI series begins on December 4 in Kimberley, with the significant Black Day ODI taking place in Durban on December 8, culminating with the final ODI on December 11 in Potchefstroom.
The Proteas Women are ready to take on this formidable challenge, aiming to build on their recent experiences and make a strong statement ahead of the upcoming World Cup.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0