The South African women’s cricket team has a mountain to climb when they face Australia on home soil in a multi-format tour from January 27 to February 18.
Of course, there’s a sense of vengeance in the air after the Proteas were defeated by the Aussies in the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup at Newlands in Cape Town last year.
The Down Under tour will include three T20 Internationals and three One-Day Internationals. The two countries will then play their first-ever test match.
Australia now leads both the T20I and ODI global rankings, leaving the Proteas (3rd in the ODI rankings and 5th in the T20I rankings) with a tough task. South Africa’s best ODI result versus Australia was a stalemate in November 2016, and they are 0-7 in T20Is.
The Proteas, led once again by Laura Wolvaardt as captain, need every bit of opposition they can get as they prepare for the September 2024 T20 World Cup in Bangladesh. The return of Chloé Tryon, who was away on recent international duty, strengthens the team. Ayanda Hlubi, who was called up to the national team for T20I duty last year, will now play in some ODI matches in Australia.
Hilton Moreeng, the head coach, has voiced his faith in his team, stating that there is a nice balance between experience and youth.
We look forward to building on the fantastic year we had as a team in 2023. Our trip to Bangladesh ended well, and we were able to accomplish our goals and learn more about the game and the red ball.
The chosen squad is really competitive and well-balanced, and we are very confident heading into Australia since we also discussed our abilities with the white ball, where we are going, and what is needed.
Moreeng, who has been a coach for 12 years, just had his contract extended till the end of the 2023–2024 campaign. He’ll also be in charge of a home series against Sri Lanka beginning near the end of March after returning from Australia. The hunt is still on for his replacement.
The same 15 players that recently toured India, where they won the ODI and T20I series, will represent Australia against South Africa in the meantime. According to selector Shawn Flegler, they are excited to meet the Proteas since “South Africa were formidable opponents in the T20 World Cup final in Cape Town.”
TEAMS
SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt (captain), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Mieke de Ridder, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Chloé Tryon, Delmi Tucker.
AUSTRALIA: Alyssa Healy (captain), Darcie Brown, Heather Graham, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham.
FIXTURES
1st T20I – Saturday 27 January 2024 – 01:45 – Manuka Oval, Canberra
2nd T20I – Sunday 28 January 2024 – 01:45 – Manuka Oval, Canberra
3rd T20I – Tuesday 30 January 2024 – 10:05 – Bellerive Oval, Hobart
1st ODI – Saturday 3 February 2024 – 05:40 – Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
2nd ODI – Wednesday 7 February 2024 – 05:40 – North Sydney Oval, Sydney
3rd ODI – Saturday 10 February 2024 – 05:40 – North Sydney Oval, Sydney
Test – 15-19 February 2024 – 05:40 – WACA Ground, Perth
