23 February - Cape Town - England player Danni Wyatt pre-match press conference

[Reporter]

That was a very dominant performance against Pakistan the other day. Is the team still on a high after that?

[Danni Wyatt]

Yeah, definitely. I think it was the highest score in World Cup so… - we speak about wanting to break records, so, we were really happy, obviously. And yeah, I think, we've been given a licence at the top of the order to go from ball one. We've got the depth in the order to allow us to do that as well. Even if it's going to be tricky conditions, we're still going to keep going hard. So, yeah, everyone's feeling really confident and more importantly, really chilled. I think, you know, semi-final, the business end of the tournament, it's really important to be calm and really clever and smart about the way you're going to go out and play. So, yeah, we're all ready for tomorrow.

[Reporter]

And how important was it for you to get that half century?

[Danni Wyatt]

Yeah, I mean, T20 cricket is so up and down, isn't it? Especially as an opener, it can be brutal at times and you've just got to believe in yourself and just keep going, keep taking it to them. It can be easy, if you fail a few times, just to go out there and knock it around. But I just said to myself, I'm just going to carry on being brave, be smart and get the team off to a good start. Yeah, really happy with the way I performed.

[Reporter]

Was there any sense of wanting to make a statement after your disappointment and not getting picked up in the WPL?

[Danni Wyatt]

No, not really. I mean, it was a very heart-breaking couple of days. I was very disappointed, obviously, having been a part of the IPL Exhibition matches and I love playing cricket in India. It's one of the best places to play cricket. So, to not even have one bid was pretty heart-breaking. But that's life. And my focus is purely on this World Cup now and, yeah, the sun still comes up the next day, doesn't it?

[Reporter]

Just wanted to ask about Nat Sciver. Is it the best cricket she's playing right now?

[Danni Wyatt]

Yeah, those shots over extra cover, I was like, wow Nat, you've been working on these. Because normally she's very, very strong on the leg side and now she's working on hitting through the offside. I don't think there's anything she can't do at the minute. So, yeah, I'm just really glad she's on my team and I love batting with Nat. She's a quick runner as well, which I like. And we don't really talk much in the middle. We just stick to our plan and just go out there and, you know, Nat's very, very smart, very adaptable. And hopefully she can carry her form into the finals.

[Reporter]

A potential player of the tournament, if I have to ask you?

[Danni Wyatt]

Yeah, she's definitely up there, isn't she? I mean, business end of the tournament now. Hopefully she can keep up the good form and get some good runs over the next couple of games, hopefully.

[Reporter]

And on my final question on South Africa, what do you think are their biggest strengths? Plus, they will be heading into this match after that historic semi-final achievement. So, what do you think are the biggest strengths, areas of strength for South Africa?

[Danni Wyatt]

Well, they've got some world-class players in their team. Obviously, they've got Ismail, Kapi, they've got a great bowling line-up. So, we're going to have a think tonight about what their plans might be against us. And yeah, I think we're on the same wicket as today. So probably keep an eye on the match today, see how we play, see if there's any spin. And yeah, we've had a lot of success against South Africa. So, I think we'll take that into the game tomorrow and semi-final. You've got to be chilled and just back our plans and go out there and be brave.

[Reporter]

And what's your opinion about the atmosphere that the stadiums in South Africa have created?

[Danni Wyatt]

Well, it's going to be so exciting to play. I've heard it's going to be a sell-out, so it's going to be very exciting tomorrow. And hopefully it is a sell-out and we can inspire some more young girls to take up the game. And yeah, I think we're just going to go out there, enjoy each other's company and just keep doing what we've been doing over this tournament and really back ourselves and enjoy it out there.

[Reporter]

Obviously, the team's got quite a lot of experience in World Cup semi-finals, but there seems to be something different about this team. Like you said, you're breaking records. I just wonder from your perspective, what feels different this time?

[Danni Wyatt]

Yeah, Louis brought this really calm aura into the team. I think everyone just knows their plan and Louis trying to install it into our heads just to go out there and always take the positive option, whatever it might be. You know, even in team meetings, in training, we're always talking about being positive, being brave, whether that be in the field, bowling, batting. And it's T20 cricket at the end of the day, you're meant to go out there from ball one and take it to the opposition. So, no matter the conditions, we're still going to go out there and try and take it to them.

[Reporter]

And a lot of the South African players have been over playing in The Hundred. You know a lot of them quite well. Is that something you've tapped into going into the game?

[Danni Wyatt]

Yeah, I've faced Kappie and Shabbie a lot over my career, my 13 years of playing for England. So obviously they know what my strengths and weaknesses are, I know what theirs are. So, it's going to be a good battle tomorrow and something that I can't wait to be a part of. And yeah, let's see how the wicket plays today in the India-Aus game. Yeah, hopefully get one up on them tomorrow.

[Reporter]

Good luck for the semi-final. I just wonder whether there's any additional kind of pressure with you guys going into the game as kind of clear favourites. Obviously South Africa have had their issues with a bit of a slow start to the tournament and lots of chat about players maybe not in their team. How are you going to deal with that favourites tag and that pressure on you to get into the final?

[Danni Wyatt]

Yeah, I think the pressure is all on South Africa. It's the home world cup for them. So, yeah, we're just going to keep doing what we're doing. There's such a calm feeling in our group at the minute, which is really nice. So, I think we're not going to change anything. Obviously, semi-final sell-out is going to be really exciting. So, it's just going to be really important to stay calm and just enjoy each other's company, I guess. And just go out there, back ourselves and what will be, will be.

[Reporter]

You just touched a little bit on that WPL situation. I mean, how have the team dealt with it? Because obviously there's been disappointments, but obviously, you know, some great successes. Obviously, the likes of Nat Sciver picking up big deals. How's the team kind of got around each other to cope with it and how have they supported you in your situation?

[Danni Wyatt]

Yeah, it was a very, very weird day. I found out I went unsold just before I got off the bus. So, I had to go and play against Ireland, which wasn't ideal timing, but that's the way it is. And yeah, I got back to the hotel and just wanted to stay in my room. I was literally heartbroken. And yeah, the girls really got around me, which is really nice. Obviously, some people got what they wanted. Some people didn't. But yeah, I was just so proud of the way everyone handled it. I certainly felt a lot of love and yeah, I think it's a credit to everybody in our squad. You know, even the staff as well, just the way they got around everybody was fantastic to see.

[Reporter]

And just one more, you touched a little bit on Nat Sciver and her performances thus far in the tournament. I mean, just what kind of an influence does she have on the rest of the team? Obviously, her runs and her bowling are there in black and white. But what does she bring in terms of maybe her influence on others and bringing players along with her to kind of play at their best?

[Danni Wyatt]

Yeah, she's cool as a cucumber and nothing fazes her. Even yesterday on the cable car, she didn't care. Yeah, she's just very chilled and it's just, everyone looks at that and you look at her on the field and she's just like, just feeds around the team and everyone really looks up to Nat and I'm just so glad she's on our team. And obviously, she's hitting the ball like a beach ball at the minute. So hopefully she can keep that up and never change. Even when she went for that big pay packet the other day, like literally, she's just like, nothing seems to faze her. So, yeah, she's got a very consistent mood, which is the key to being a very successful cricketer, I think.

[Reporter]

Sorry, just what happened on the cable car? Where was this? Table Mountain?

[Danni Wyatt]

Going back down yesterday, there was a few technical issues that made me very nervous before we boarded the cable car and then it decided to drop a little bit and swung. Yeah, it was a very terrifying experience. I don't think I'll be going up that mountain again anytime soon.

[Reporter]

Was that the first time and only time you've been up there?

[Danni Wyatt]

No, I went up there about seven years ago when I first came here and I think that'll be the last time.

[Reporter]

As you say, you can walk up and walk down.

[Danni Wyatt]

Yeah, I'm not going on that cable car ever again. It's the load shedding, once the electricity goes, that's it. Staying away from it. I'll take the stairs.

[Reporter]

I just wanted to ask from your personal batting point of view, last time in the ODI World Cup semi-finals, you stepped up big time for England. Are you feeling like doing the same again? Coming up to the board in the big match, especially against South Africa?

[Danni Wyatt]

Oh, am I looking to do that again? Well, I hope so. But it's a different day, it's different conditions. But yeah, I'll definitely take a lot of confidence from that going into tomorrow. Yeah, hopefully the cricket gods are with me and I can keep up the good form and really take it to the South African seamers.

[Reporter]

Be honest. Did you scream?

[Danni Wyatt]

Yes, I did. I think everyone did. Well, literally everyone. A lot of people were shaking.

[Reporter]

Just, can you describe the difference, the pressure of a semi-final, how that's different to the pressure of a final?

[Danni Wyatt]

Oh, tough question. I mean, there's always pressure when you play for England. Like, I get so nervous. I even get nervous playing cricket in the street with my brother. And the day I never get nervous will be probably time when it's time to hang up the boots. But yeah, I don't know. I think obviously a final, you've got to the final. You never want to lose a final, but you never want to lose a semi either. Yeah, I don't know, really. I think it's going to be so important to just really try and enjoy tomorrow's occasion. It's going to be a sell-out. These moments don't happen very often. So, same with the final. There's going to be a lot of nerves around, but I think you've got to really embrace these days and just try and show off, show the world what you can do and what will be will be.