South Africa’s national women’s cricket team is set to return to action after their T20 World Cup final heartbreak in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last month. The Proteas Women will host England for a full-format tour, kicking off with a three-match T20 series in East London this Sunday.
The squad, which has been training at Cricket South Africa’s Centre of Excellence, features several players from the World Cup campaign. This will be the team’s first major assignment since losing to New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final in October.
Aiming for Redemption
Faye Tunnicliffe, who returns to the T20 squad after an extended absence, believes England will bring their best game, fueled by a desire to avenge their early World Cup exit.
“England will come back with a vengeance, especially since we went further in the World Cup. They’re an incredibly strong side, playing a lot of cricket in the UK. It’s going to be good, competitive cricket,” said Tunnicliffe.
The tour also serves as vital preparation for the Women’s 50-over World Cup, set to take place next September and October. The three-match One Day International (ODI) series will allow team management to assess their readiness for the global tournament.
Key Players and Focus Areas
Nonkululeko Mlaba, one of the leading wicket-takers during the T20 World Cup, is eager to build on her recent success.
“We’re proud of what we achieved in Dubai, even though we couldn’t bring the trophy home. Now our focus shifts to the 50-over format as we prepare for the World Cup. It’s a challenge, but we’re ready,” said Mlaba.
The tour will conclude with a historic Test match at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein next month. Senior all-rounder Suné Luus is optimistic about the Proteas capitalizing on the intense Free State heat.
“Playing a Test is always special. The conditions in Bloemfontein will be challenging, but we’ve had good preparation earlier this year in places like Perth and Chennai. We hope the heat works to our advantage,” Luus noted.
Schedule and Details
The first T20 match will take place at Buffalo Park in East London on Sunday afternoon. The tour promises exciting competition as both teams aim to assert dominance ahead of next year’s World Cup.