Proteas T20 series against India a ‘dress rehearsal’ for World Cup, says Wolvaardt

Chloe Tryon of South Africa bats during the Women's T20 match between Governor General's XI and South Africa on 24 January, 2024 in Sydney. (Photo: Mark Evans/Getty Images)

By Keanan Hemmonsbey

5 Jul 2024

South Africa will be looking to win their first T20I series in two years when they face off against India today in their final series before the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh.

The Proteas Women take on India in a three-match T20 series starting on Friday 5 June, in their final competitive preparation before the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in October.

Since the final of the T20 World Cup, which they lost to Australia by 19-runs in February 2023, South Africa’s run in the format has been torrid.

They have not won a T20 series since the final — losing nine and winning four of their next 17 matches, with four no results. These include an away series against Pakistan, home matches against New Zealand, three matches away to Australia — and most recently, against Sri Lanka at home.

Skipper Laura Wolvaardt, whose first assignment as leader of the group was the away tour to Pakistan, has excused the run of performances on blooding young cricketers to international cricket.

“We’ve had a few T20 series in the last couple of tours where we have tried one or two things and given youngsters an opportunity,” she said to the media on Thursday.

“But for this one we’ll be looking to play our best side and most likely the side that will be playing in the World Cup.

“It’s all about the last dress rehearsal before the big occasion.

“We’ll be looking to play as strong an XI as we can, and to have plans that are similar to that we will have in the World Cup.

“Whether that be bowling options or batting lineup. [We’ll] just try and nail down different combinations.”

Marizanne Kapp of South Africa bowls during game three of the Women's T20 International series between Australia and South Africa at on 30 January, 2024 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo: Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Learning curve

South Africa’s batters have struggled in particular, with the skipper alongside all-rounder Marizanne Kapp scoring the bulk of the Proteas’ runs.

“For the batters, it’s about finding that extra 10-20 runs,” Wolvaardt said about work-ons ahead of the World Cup. “Throughout the Australia series we were pushing 150-160, but with the game nowadays, when you get a flat wicket, teams are scoring 180-200.

“Especially in these conditions… it’s just about our batting unit finding that extra 10-20 runs.”

Read more in Daily Maverick: Proteas Women fall to India in Test despite skipper Wolvaardt’s new-found mastery of the format

South Africa’s bowling attack have also looked a lot less potent without Kapp, whose bowling load is continually being managed with an eye on having her fit and firing for the World Cup.

“With the ball, just being a bit more clinical and a bit more consistent throughout,” Wolvaardt said.

All three of the Proteas’ matches against India will take place at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai where the subcontinent conditions are expected to be similar to the World Cup conditions in Bangladesh.

With that in mind, Wolvaardt confirmed that South Africa will be looking to use their spin bowlers during the powerplay and at the death — instead of exclusively during the middle-phase — in an attempt to unsettle the batters.

Chloe Tryon of South Africa bats during the Women's T20 match between Governor General's XI and South Africa on 24 January, 2024 in Sydney. (Photo: Mark Evans/Getty Images)

A comeback?

Despite the chopping and changing in the lineups in South Africa’s previous series, they will be looking to play the side that will do battle against England on 3rd October, in the first match of the T20 World Cup.

“We’re pretty close, but in an ideal world Marizanne would also be bowling. But other than that, we should have everyone on board,” Wolvaardt said.

“Having Chloe [Tryon] back as well, we should be good barring injury.”

However, former skipper, Dané van Niekerk and quick Shabnim Ismail — who both retired from international cricket after the T20 World Cup last year — have reportedly confirmed their intent to rejoin the team.

Both players are experienced internationals. Van Niekerk’s batting prowess in the middle-order and leg-break bowling is a glaring miss in the Proteas side. And Ismail’s raw pace could sharpen an attack that has looked blunt in the last few months. DM

The first T20I starts at 3.30pm on Friday, 4 July 2024.

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South Africa

Learning curve

A comeback?