By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced the 15-player squad for the Proteas Women’s white-ball leg of the multi-format tour against Australia between 27 January – 18 February.
South Africa will go head-to-head against the world champions in three T20Is, three ODIs and a first-ever four-day Test.
The tour will begin with the T20I format, with the first two matches held at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on 27 and 28 January before the third clash is played at the Bellerive Oval in the city of Hobart on 30 January.
These matches will help the Proteas and the reigning T20 World Cup champions prepare for the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh.
The ODI series carries additional significance for both sides as they seek to earn crucial points in the ongoing ICC Women’s Championship campaign (2022-25) which forms part of the qualification pathway for the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in India.
The trio of ODIs will be shared by the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide on 3 February as well as the North Sydney Oval in Sydney on 7 and 10 February.
The tour will conclude with the historic once-off Test match at the WACA Ground in Perth between 15-18 February.
Leading the team to Australia will be captain Laura Wolvaardt. The talented top-order batter will be joined by a well-balanced group including fellow Women’s Big Bash League stars Marizanne Kapp and Chloé Tryon.
Earning her maiden one-day international (ODI) call-up for South Africa is Hollywoodbets Dolphins fast bowler, Ayanda Hlubi who made her senior debut in the third T20 International (T20I) against Bangladesh in Kimberley in December.
Proteas Women’s head coach Hilton Moreeng said, “It’s a very competitive squad. It is a mixture of youngsters and experience, and everyone is looking forward to it. It was a very good year for us as a team in 2023, so we look forward to building on that.
“We finished off well with the tour against Bangladesh and the camp was very good. The weather is not something we can control but we got what we wanted out of it, such as the education around the game, touching base regarding the red ball, and what we want to achieve.”
“We also touched on our skills regarding the white ball, where we are going, and what is required, so the selected squad is very well-balanced and competitive, and we are very confident going into Australia.”
Proteas Women Convenor of Selectors, Clinton du Preez said, “The objective is consistently to vie for success in every competition or tour we engage in, and the prospect of doing so in Australia is very exciting as we compete against the best. The squad maintains its balance, and we eagerly anticipate Chloé’s return. Her wealth of experience and match-winning skills will undoubtedly enhance the squad’s value.
“I am genuinely excited for both the players and the management team. The group is undoubtedly poised to compete and deliver positive contributions to the overall team performance and the set targets throughout the tour,”
Proteas Women Squad (T20 & ODI) – Multi-Format to Australia
Laura Wolvaardt (Fidelity Titans, Captain), Anneke Bosch (Fidelity Titans), Tazmin Brits (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Nadine de Klerk (Western Province), Mieke de Ridder (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Ayanda Hlubi (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Marizanne Kapp (Western Province), Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions), Masabata Klaas (Fidelity Titans), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), Eliz-Mari Marx (Fidelity Titans), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Chloé Tryon (DP World Lions), Delmi Tucker (Western Province).