Five key Proteas who have to be in top form at World T20

The women’s World T20 starts in Guyana tonight with a match between India and New Zealand. Dane van Niekerk’s South Africa side start their challenge on Tuesday morning (SA time) against Sri Lanka. Stuart Hess looks at the five key players who have to be in top form if SA is to challenge for the title.

LIZELLE LEE

One of the most destructive hitters in the game, Lee will be one of the most watched players at the women’s World T20. She can hit a ball further than most men even, although she states she would rather time the ball well, than hit with power. Whatever way she does it, her teammates don’t care as long as she gets on top of the opposing attack early, they know they are in with a chance of winning. Recognised that perhaps she erred too much on the side of subtlety in the tour to the West Indies two months ago and is back to utilising her mantra “see ball, hit ball” to propel the Proteas to quick starts.

DANE VAN NIEKERK

The captain is one of the most experienced and talented T20 players in the game today. Van Niekerk can bat anywhere in the order and mixes creative stroke play with prodigious big-hitting ability. Her leg-spin on what many expect to be slow and low tracks for the competition is crucial. She is a genuine big-game player and will thrive in the hotly-contested environs of tournament play. Under her leadership the SA team have developed a tougher attitude, but they now need to ally that with better performances particularly with the bat. Van Niekerk has grown ever more irritated explaining her team’s inconsistency in that category, she does not want to be repeating herself in two weeks’ time.

MARIZANNE KAPP

One of the premier all-rounders in the game at the moment, Kapp is a player who has gained vast experience thanks to playing in the T20 leagues in the UK and Australia. Kapp is a naggingly accurate new-ball bowler, who has reasonable pace and can swing the ball away from the right-hander. But she more often than not targets the stumps, making her a deadly operator, who can shut down the opposition in the powerplay. A superb athlete she patrols the boundary as well as anyone in the game, and has a strong, accurate throwing arm. She probably has more to offer with the bat, but is often coming in late needing to propel the ball to the boundary, which she is more than capable of doing.

CHLOE TRYON

Tryon is another powerful hitter, capable of smashing a cricket ball many a mile. She stands apart from many other players in that she doesn’t need long to adjust to conditions and get her eye in, making her an expert “finisher”. If she is given time she can really hurt an opposing bowling attack with her favourite areas being the region between midwicket and long-on. Bowls useful right-arm medium pace, and slots into the category of “golden arm” for her ability to claim big wickets at key moments. It’s with the bat that she will win games for SA however, and she will be responsible for marshalling the tail when situations demand.

SUNE LUUS

Holder of the best figures for a SA bowler in the T20 format, Luus has been given a bigger role in the side in recent years with the bat. Her legspin may not be consistent, but she gets wickets, especially with opposing batters trying to attack her. With the bat she has been moved up the order and given a bit of licence recently to attack. Not a big hitter, Luus relies on hitting the ball into gaps, and she is very quick between the wickets.

SA Group A Schedule for WT20

13 November (start 2am SA time) - vs Sri Lanka (Gros Islet) 15 November (2am) - vs West Indies (Gros Islet) 16 November (10pm) - vs England (Gros Islet)

19 November (2am) - vs Bangladesh (Gros Islet)

22 and 23 November - Semifinals

25 November - Final