Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Friday revealed the squads for the South African women’s cricket team set to tour India in a crucial multi-format series starting in June and stretching into July. This extensive tour, encompassing both ODI and Test formats, arrives as the Proteas women intensify their preparations for the forthcoming T20 World Cup. Notably, the team will be under the leadership of opening batter Laura Wolvaardt, who will captain a team missing several key players due to injuries.
Conspicuously absent from the squads are experienced all-rounder Chloe Tryon, middle-order batter Lara Goodall, and right-arm medium bowler Ayanda Hlubi. Tryon, a prominent figure in South Africa’s T20I squad during the recent series against Sri Lanka and in their previous one-off Test against Australia in February, will be missed for her all-round capabilities and leadership on the field. Goodall and Hlubi’s exclusions also highlight the depth of the injury concerns plaguing the squad. While these absences pose challenges, they also open the door for emerging talent.
The ODI and Test squads feature four uncapped players: Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder, Eliz-Mari Marx (in Tests), and Nondumiso Shangase (in Tests). The inclusion of these fresh faces signals CSA’s commitment to bolstering their lineup with new talent capable of stepping up on the international stage.
. CSA has yet to announce the squad for the T20Is, with expectations set for an imminent reveal.
Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already named its squad for all three formats in the series. Key players like Jemimah Rodrigues and Pooja Vastrakar have secured spots across the formats, though their participation hinges on their fitness status. Additionally, top-order batter Priya Punia makes a notable return to the ODI squad, having last played for India in the 50-over format in July of the previous year.
In this high-stakes tour, South Africa’s ODI squad for the three-match series comprises: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Eliz-Mari Marz, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukune, Nondumiso Shangase, and Delmi Tucker.
For the one-off Test match, the squad remains largely similar, reaffirming CSA’s faith in a core group of players: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Eliz-Mari Marz, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukune, Nondumiso Shangase, and Delmi Tucker.
On the Indian side, the ODI squad includes: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues *, Richa Ghosh (WK), Uma Chetri (WK), Dayalan Hemalatha, Radha Yadav, Asha Sobhana, Shreyanka Patil, Saika Ishaque, Pooja Vastrakar *, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, and Priya Punia.
India’s Test squad for the lone Test match sees similar faces with additions like Meghna Singh and Sneh Rana bringing their strengths into the fold: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Shubha Satheesh, Jemimah Rodrigues *, Richa Ghosh (WK), Uma Chetri (WK), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Saika Ishaque, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Pooja Vastrakar *, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Meghna Singh, and Priya Punia.
The T20I series squad for India includes the potential game-changers: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Dayalan Hemalatha, Uma Chetri (WK), Richa Ghosh (WK), Jemimah Rodrigues *, Sajana Sajeevan, Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Asha Sobhana, Pooja Vastrakar *, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, with Saika Ishaque on standby.
The fixture list for this engaging tour of India by South Africa’s women’s team is as follows:
– 1st ODI: June 16, 2024, Sunday, 1:30 PM, Bengaluru
– 2nd ODI: June 19, 2024, Wednesday, 1:30 PM, Bengaluru
– 3rd ODI: June 23, 2024, Sunday, 1:30 PM, Bengaluru
– One-off Test: June 28 – July 1, 2024, 9:30 AM, Chennai
– 1st T20I: July 5, 2024, Friday, 7:00 PM, Chennai
– 2nd T20I: July 7, 2024, Sunday, 7:00 PM, Chennai
– 3rd T20I: July 9, 2024, Tuesday, 7:00 PM, Chennai
