Familiar faces return to South Africa's white-ball squads to face England
The Proteas announced their squads for their upcoming Women's T20I and ODI series against England.
The 14-player T20I squad welcomes all-rounders Eliz-Mari Marx and Nondumiso Shangase along with batter Faye Tunnicliffe, who returns to the national team after three years. Senior players Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka have been rested for the series.
Seshnie Naidu will also miss out, focusing on her academic commitments while also preparing for the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia in January 2025.
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The ODI squad features 15 players, with fast bowler Ayanda Hlubi earning a recall. Kapp, Khaka and Mieke de Ridder will rejoin the team as they aim to secure valuable points in the ICC Women's Championship.
Lara Goodall, who received her 50th ODI cap in April, returns after missing the ODI series against India. Right-arm pacer Masabata Klaas earns back her place in the ODIs, after missing out on the ICC Women's T20 World Cup.
The two sides will also compete in a historic one-off Test match from 15-18 December at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein, the first Women’s Test held in South Africa since 2002. The Proteas’ Test squad will be revealed over the course of the white-ball series.
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South Africa T20I squad: Laura Wolvaardt (captain), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Suné Luus, Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, Chloé Tryon, Faye Tunnicliffe.
South Africa ODI squad: Laura Wolvaardt (captain), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder, Lara Goodall, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Chloé Tryon.
Proteas Women’s interim head coach Dillon du Preez expressed anticipation for the upcoming series against England, acknowledging the challenge it presents.
“Everyone is looking forward to the multi-format series against England, and we know it's not going to be an easy one," she said. "It's always a tough series against them. We know that we need to make sure that our planning is spot on, and so far it's been interesting.”
Du Preez emphasised that the team will maintain the same focus as in the recent T20 World Cup, allowing newer players the chance to step up.
“We would like to have the same approach as we had in the recent T20 World Cup," she added. "We would still like to grow as a team and continue working on our T20 playing philosophy. So we decided to give one or two players a chance in the T20I series to prove themselves and also to give us a chance to look at what stock we have available and what skill we need to work on.”
South Africa currently sit fourth in the ICC Women’s Championship standings, trailing England by five points.
Fixtures:
1st T20I: 24 November, Buffalo Park Stadium, East London
2nd T20I: 27 November, Willowmoore Park, Benoni
3rd T20I: 30 November, SuperSport Park, Centurion
1st ODI: 4 December, Kimberley Oval, Kimberley
2nd ODI: 8 December, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban
3rd ODI: 11 December, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom
Only Test: 15 to 18 December, Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein