SA can push Aussies if they stay calm, says Tryon
PROTEAS Women’s all-rounder Chloé Tryon is thrilled to be back with the national team ahead of their eagerly awaited series against Australia.
The Proteas are Down Under for a full tour that features a T20 International (T20I) and One-Day International (ODI) series as well as a one-off Test match. Tryon has not been part of the Proteas squad since the home series against New Zealand in October, helping the team secure a 2-1 ODI series win before drawing the rain-affected T20Is 1-1.
Unfortunately, the all-rounder sustained a groin injury playing for the Sydney Sixers in Australia’s Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) that ruled her out of the national side’s home encounters against Bangladesh last month. But Tryon has undertaken an extensive rehabilitation programme and is ready for easily the toughest tour in women’s cricket with the Australians being world champions in both white-ball formats.
“It’s been really good,” Tryon said after the team’s first training session in Sydney.
“I worked through the whole of December back home at the Wanderers. I got to work every single day to get my hip nice and strong.
“Everything’s really good and I’m happy to be here and be cleared completely. I am really excited to be part of a big series.”
Tryon is one of the most experienced Proteas Women’s cricketers, having represented the country in 100 ODIs where she has scored 1 748 runs and taken 44 wickets, and in 91 T20 Internationals, where she amassed 1 067 runs and 31 wickets.
Despite this lengthy international career, she has only faced the Aussies on one occasion outside of International Cricket Council events, on a Proteas bilateral white-ball tour Down Under in 2016. But having played in the WBBL over the past few years, Tryon is no stranger to Australia and has developed a great affinity for the country.
“I love the area,” she said. “I love the place. There are really good cricket facilities and you’re playing the best in the world.
“It’s been a while since we’ve had a series against them, so it’s really exciting. A lot of youngsters are coming in, with a lot of experience from the older ones.”
Tryon is also certainly under no illusions about the task that awaits the Proteas Down Under, especially as it will be the first time these two sides meet since the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup final at Newlands last year.
Tryon explained: “It’s going to be a nice tour and a challenging one for us.
“(Aussies are) quality for sure. “It’s always tough to beat a team like that. It’s about staying nice and calm, taking every moment as it comes. You don’t want to think too far ahead in the game. We’ve seen how they’ve played teams. If we can just stay nice and calm, I think we can take it to the end.”