Proteas stick with tried and tested for World Cup

NO World Cup squad can make everyone happy, but South Africa’s selectors have managed, for the most part, to avoid any need for major gripes in compiling the group that will head to New Zealand next week for the 50-over showpiece.

In the last five years the South African national women’s team has shown improvement and consistency, justifying its ranking as the no.2 side in the ODI format behind Australia.

Nine of the starters from the semi-final defeat to England in 2017 are in the squad named yesterday – a tenth member, Masabata Klaas, is there too, and Raisibe Ntozakhe is amongst the travelling reserves. Injury robbed Dane van Niekerk of a chance to add to that number.

Van Niekerk’s absence is a blow because she has stamped her personality on the team, is a major attacking force – especially with the bat – and one of the best leaders in the game.

Sune Luus has taken over the captaincy admirably and it’s been noticeable during the series against the West Indies that concludes tomorrow, that she is comfortable in the position. She was at the forefront of strategising how the Proteas wanted to treat this series, placing an emphasis on assessing combinations and tactics rather than only winning against the West Indies.

Because of Van Niekerk’s dual role with bat and ball, it was essential that the Proteas get to grips with how to fill those holes. Lara Goodall got a run in India last year and performed reasonably well, but Luus and coach Hilton Moreeng will demand that she assert herself more from the no.3 spot.

There is depth in the line-up, with the pace attack an experienced and high class one, which with Marizanne Kapp set to return once the tournament starts, will again be a major weapon for the Proteas.

If there was a surprise in the squad it is the absence from the main 15-player group of all-rounder Nadine de Klerk. She made a huge impression at the T20 World Cup in Australia, playing a critical role with the ball in the semi-final with Australia. In the third ODI on Thursday she made 22 off 15 balls, but it was deemed not good enough for the squad.

Instead the selectors went with Tumi Sekhukhune, whose overall ODI record, especially with the ball, is similar to De Klerk’s. With the bat, there’s too little evidence to know if she can be effective as a lower order contributor.

De Klerk, Ntozakhe and Anneke Bosch make up the ‘travelling reserves,’ a medical stipulation by the ICC to provide cover for the squads in case of Covid cases.

The Proteas will open the tournament against Bangladesh on March 5 in Dunedin.

SOUTH AFRICA WORLD CUP SQUAD

Lizelle Lee, Laura Wolvaardt, Sune Luus (capt), Lara Goodall, Mignon du Preez, Chloe Tryon, Marizanne Kapp, Trisha Chetty, Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Sinalo Jafta, Tazmin Brits,Tumi Sekhukhune,

Travelling Reserves: Anneke Bosch, Nadine de Klerk, Raisibe Ntozakhe,

BackpagePix NADINE de Klerk’s absence was the biggest surprise in the South African World Cup squad named yesterday. |