Girls’s World Cup 2022 crew information: South Africa

The Cricketer’s in-depth take a look at the Proteas forward of the event in New Zealand

Coach: Hilton Moreeng loved a short enjoying profession however was first appointed as head coach of South Africa Girls in 2012, since then reaching the semi-finals of the T20 World Cups in 2014 and 2020, in addition to the 2017 50-over World Cup in England. He arrives in New Zealand together with his expenses ranked second on this planet, solely behind event favourites Australia.

Captain: The build-up to this World Cup has been eventful for the Proteas, who can be with out Dane van Niekerk, lacking after fracturing her ankle after slipping at residence. In her place, Sune Luus has been named as captain, with Chloe Tryon as her deputy. Luus has led South Africa in 20 of her 92 ODIs and 15 of her 83 T20Is. Van Niekerk guarantees to be a giant miss, nevertheless: she was on the helm as her aspect had been crushed by Australia within the last 4 two years in the past on the T20 World Cup, whereas she extra lately skippered Oval Invincibles to glory in The Hundred.

Superstars

Lizelle Lee: The 29-year-old is among the many hardest hitters within the ladies’s sport and her return to the squad is a welcome fillip within the absence of van Niekerk. Lee missed the current sequence win over West Indies attributable to Covid however was handed match to journey to New Zealand to probably take her place on the high of the order for the Proteas. Nobody has made extra ODI a whole lot for South Africa, albeit teammate Laura Wolvaardt additionally has three in 27 fewer matches. Though Lee is with out a global look in 2022, she made three fifties in 4 innings (91*, 78*, 61) on a tour of the Caribbean final September.

Shabnim Ismail: One of many sport’s most fearsome seamers, solely Cathryn Fitzpatrick, Jhulan Goswami and Anisa Mohammed have taken extra ODI wickets – and nobody has claimed extra because the 2017 World Cup last. She comes into this World Cup on the again of consecutive four-wicket hauls in opposition to West Indies, with this absolutely the final world 50-over event within the profession of the 34-year-old quick bowler. At her quickest, she touched 80mph, turning into simply the fourth bowler to 100 T20I wickets final 12 months – she has performed in each T20 World Cup because the event’s incepton. Her new-ball partnership with Marizanne Kapp can be among the many most potent on present.

Rising star

It says loads for an skilled squad that Tazmin Brits is its most novice-like member regardless of herself being 31 years of age. Brits, a batter with seven ODI caps, has additionally featured in 20 T20Is and solely made her worldwide 50-over debut final 12 months. Nadine de Klerk, the proficient 22-year-old allrounder, is only a travelling reserve – each a shock and likewise a reminder of the energy in depth at South Africa’s disposal, even with out van Niekerk.

^{Lizelle Lee should shoulder the burden of the absent Dane van Niekerk}

BATTING

Energy hitters

Nobody hits an extended ball in ladies’s cricket worldwide than Tryon: certainly, no participant to have confronted greater than 30 balls for South Africa in T20Is has the next strike fee, whereas solely Lee has hit extra sixes (48) than her 34, albeit in additional than thrice the variety of deliveries. The identical two gamers are each among the many high seven six-hitters in T20 World Cup historical past, although nicely behind chief Deandra Dottin, who has ready for this event with a brutal hundred in opposition to the Proteas.

Tryon, South Africa’s ninth-leading run-scorer in ODIs, has accrued these runs at a strike fee of 97.79. Whereas she operates predominantly within the center order, Lee is the tone-setter – solely Mignon du Preez has scored extra ODI runs for her nation.

Anchor

Trisha Chetty and Mignon du Preez have strike charges within the 60s and are each skilled senior professionals whose worldwide careers started 15 years in the past. Du Preez batted at No.5 within the current sequence win over West Indies, with Chetty – who saved wicket – additional down the order. Andrie Steyn, one other regular scorer, who made her solitary ODI hundred in 2017 in opposition to Eire, got here in for the ultimate ODI in opposition to West Indies in early February and made a half century.

South Africa’s star, nevertheless, is Wolvaardt, among the many most watchable batters within the sport with a picture-perfect cowl drive. Nonetheless solely 22, she has already made 99 appearances in all codecs for the Proteas, with three ODI a whole lot already to her identify.

Finisher

That is Tryon’s area, together with her dominant backside hand and brute energy. The vice-captain has reached fifty on eight events in ODI cricket, together with her 92 off 68 balls in opposition to Eire in 2016 the second-highest rating ever made in a ladies’s ODI from No.7.

Downside areas

The absence of van Niekerk is the apparent one, particularly given the run-scoring burden that may fall upon Lee, Wolvaardt and Kapp. The road-up is way from settled, with out an apparent order for his or her high six.

^{Shabnim Ismail is among the many quickest bowlers within the ladies’s sport}

BOWLING

Velocity retailers

Ismail leads a tempo assault additionally that includes Kapp, who has precisely 200 worldwide wickets to her identify. Ayabonga Khaka is 4 in need of 100 wickets in ODIs; she is likely one of the higher seamers on the worldwide circuit and has turned out within the Girls’s T20 Problem previously, whereas Masabata Klaas is six shy of fifty ODI scalps. She is one other skilled member of this squad, having made her worldwide bow in 2010. At 23, Tumi Sekhukhune is the youngest of the seamers at Luus’ disposal.

Variation

Even with out van Niekerk, Luus can name upon her personal leg-breaks for a change of tempo – she has 155 worldwide wickets – although that represents the most effective of her different choices. Tryon bowls helpful left-arm spin, although Nonkululeko Mlaba – the youngest member of the squad – gives a extra specialist choice as a gradual left-armer. Raisibe Ntozakhe is a travelling reserve, having made her worldwide return after greater than three years away. She was solely cleared to bowl once more in worldwide cricket final September, having been reported for an unlawful motion in 2018.

Downside areas

The shortage of a high quality specialist spinner might show problematic for Luus, however in any other case she has the makings of a wonderful seam assault.

Who takes the gloves?

South Africa are hardly quick on wicketkeeping choices: du Preez, Lee, Chetty and Sinalo Jafta all have expertise behind the stumps, although it will likely be the latter two competing for the job in New Zealand. Chetty donned the gloves within the Proteas’ final ODI in opposition to West Indies.

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

Fixtures: March 5 – Bangladesh; March 11 – Pakistan; March 14 – England; March 17 – New Zealand; March 22 – Australia; March 24 – West Indies; March 27 – India

Doable beginning XI: Wolvaardt, Lee, Brits, Luus, du Preez, Kapp, Tryon, Chetty, Ismail, Khaka, Sekhukhun

OTHER TEAM GUIDES (open in exterior window in app)

Australia

Bangladesh

England

India

New Zealand

Pakistan

West Indies