‘Building blocks’ for 2021 World Cup
PROTEAS women’s coach Hilton Moreeng believes his team can deliver a coveted World Cup title to South Africa in just over five months time.
Moreeng, who was first handed the reins of the Proteas team in 2012, was re-appointed yesterday for a further three years with his new contract running until 2023. The term includes next year’s ODI World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup due to be held in New Zealand and SA respectively.
Under Moreeng’s leadership, the Proteas progressed to the semi-finals of both those events the last time it was held in England (2017) and Australia (2020). On both occasions the Proteas were defeated by the hosts and eventual champions.
But with the support of Cricket SA’s director of cricket Graeme Smith and the first full-time women’s Under19s and National Academy head coach Dinesha Devnarain, Moreeng believes the Proteas can go all the way in New Zealand next year.
“To be given the chance to work with the women’s team again is an exciting opportunity,” said Moreeng. “When I first started, we had a number of young players with a lot of potential, now they’ve matured and have shown that they can compete with the best in the world. We have set ourselves the target to win the 2021 World Cup and so far the building blocks look very good. We have assembled one of the best ODI teams in this country for a very long time. In terms of skills are concerned and the amount of time we have in preparing them, we are looking forward to making sure we can compete.
“On top of that, and while we’re doing that, is to sustain and grow the youngsters that we have. Therefore the appointment of our high-performance coach Denisha has come at the right time. With her there now there is someone to keep an eye on the youngsters coming through which is very good for us.”
The Proteas certainly have an exciting blend of experience and youth at their disposal. Captain Dane van Niekerk sits comfortably among the elite of the women’s game, while Marizanne Kapp, Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Mignon du Preez and Lizelle Lee are all hugely respected on the international circuit too.
They are complemented by a crop of exciting youngsters led by stylish batsman Laura Wolvaardt, who are eager to topple the English and Australian dynasties that have dominated the women’s game.
Although women’s cricket has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic with the Proteas’ series against Australia and the West Indies cancelled during the national lockdown, Moreeng’s team have already stated their title credentials by trouncing a powerful Black Caps team 3-0 in New Zealand at the beginning of this year.
This result achieved in the country where the next ODI World Cup will be held, has given Moreeng the confidence that his team can go a couple of steps further when they return there next year.
“If you look back in January this team beat one of the best ODI teams in the world, New Zealand, to whitewash them on their home soil, showed the character of this team,” Moreeng said. “The World Cup is back there again, so we are familiar with the conditions and we therefore have a great opportunity as a team.”