South African Cricket Expands Player Pool for Upcoming T20I and ODI Series against England
As South Africa looks to bolster their short-format cricket prowess, the national women’s team has made some strategic changes to their squads for the upcoming T20I and ODI series against England.
The fast bowling duo of Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka will be rested for the T20I series, allowing the selectors to explore their depth in the pace department. In their place, medium-pacer Eliz-Mari Marx, the joint-leading wicket-taker in the recent CSA Women’s Pro20 series, and allrounder Nondumiso Shangase have been recalled.
“We would like to have the same approach that we did in the last T20 World Cup. Although the next T20 World Cup is in two years’ time, we would still like to grow as a team and continue to work on our T20 playing philosophy,” said interim coach Dillon du Preez.
However, Kapp and Khaka will return for the subsequent three-match ODI series, which is part of the ICC Women’s Championship and serves as a qualification pathway for next year’s ODI World Cup in India.
The T20I squad will also be missing wicketkeeper-batter Mieke de Ridder and Seshnie Naidu, both of whom were part of the recently concluded T20 World Cup. De Ridder has been replaced by Faye Tunnicliffe, while Naidu is currently completing her final school exams and will then shift her focus to the upcoming U19 T20 World Cup in Malaysia in January.
The squad for the T20I series against England includes three players currently plying their trade in the WBBL: captain Laura Wolvaardt and allrounders Nadine de Klerk and Chloe Tryon, who will return from Australia in time for the first match on November 24.
The ODI squad has been bolstered with the inclusion of batter Lara Goodall and experienced seamer Masabata Klaas, while Ayanda Hlubi is in line for an ODI debut.
With the T20I series scheduled for November 24, 27 and 30, followed by the ODIs on December 4, 8 and 11, South Africa will be looking to fine-tune their short-format skills and maintain their strong position in the Women’s Championship standings, where they currently sit in fourth place, five points behind leaders Australia and England.
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