South African cricketers Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka have been rested for the forthcoming T20I series against England. South Africa will seek to strengthen their pool of T20 players in their absence. Medium-pacer Eliz-Mari Marx, the co-leading wicket-taker in the CSA Women’s Pro20 series, and all-rounder Nondumiso Shangase have been drafted in as replacements. Both Kapp and Khaka will return for the accompanying ODI series.
Another change for the T20 team has been to replace wicketkeeper-batter Mieke de Ridder with returning batt Faye Tunnicliffe. Seshnie Naidu, another member of the T20 World Cup who only just joined, is taking extra time at school by focusing on final exams before joining the U19 T20 World Cup in Malaysia.
Players like Ayanda Hlubi and Tumi Sekhukhune, in particular, get a bite at the cherry in the absence of Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka from the one-day squad. Both were part of the World Cup squad but didn’t find a game. “We want to continue building on our World Cup performance,” interim coach Dillon du Preez said of the series. “This series gives us a chance to look at our options and to fine-tune the plan for our T20.”.
Three players in the team are playing in WBBL currently: Laura Wolvaardt, Nadine de Klerk, and Chloé Tryon. They would also return in time for the first T20I to be played on November 24.
Reinforcements will include batter Lara Goodall and experienced seamer Masabata Klaas as well as Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka returning for this tour. Ayanda Hlubi could get her first taste of ODI action as South Africa look to prepare for the Women’s Championship, effectively one of the key pathways to the ODI World Cup in India next year.
South Africa, currently fourth in the Women’s Championship standings, have already qualified for the World Cup. The series also includes a historic one-off Test in Bloemfontein from December 15 to 18, whose Test squad is to be announced later.
South Africa Women squads for England series
T20I: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), 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
ODI: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), 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
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