Photo Credit: Gallo Images/ Cricket South Africa
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has today announced a strong 15-player squad that will tour Ireland for a One-Day International (ODI) and T20 International (T20I) series between 03 – 17 June in the city of Dublin.
In what will be the Proteas Women’s first round of fixtures since the semi-final exit in the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand, Delmi Tucker is handed her first ever call-up, while there are also a total of five changes to the World Cup playing fifteen.
Tucker, who is a batting all-rounder for the Six Gun Grill Western Province, has been rewarded for her success during the provincial season, having notched up 409 runs with the bat in white ball cricket, as well as over 15 wickets with her right-arm off-spin. The 24-year old also impressed in her appearances for the SA Emerging side during last year’s tours against their Zimbabwe and Thailand counterparts.
Amongst the quintuple changes, wicket-keeper batter Sinalo Jafta, all-rounder Marizanne Kapp and 2021’s ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year, Lizelle Lee miss out as they recuperate from respiratory illness. Experienced seamer, Masabata Klaas is also ruled out due to a right shoulder injury, while Mignon du Preez, who recently retired from ODI and Test cricket is also left out.
The incoming players include all three of the World Cup traveling reserves in spinner, Raisibe Ntozakhe, bowling all-rounder Nadine de Klerk and top-order batter, Andrie Steyn. Meanwhile Anneke Bosch, who was a late change to the New Zealand traveling party because of a fractured right thumb, also returns.
Dané van Niekerk, who returned to individual training this month, is also unavailable for selection as she continues her rehabilitation from a left ankle fracture.
During the six limited over matches in Ireland, a plethora of stars from South Africa’s blockbuster showing at the Women’s cricket global showpiece will be on display. All-rounders, Suné Luus and
Chloé Tryon are set to lead an exciting squad that includes the experienced Shabnim Ismail, Laura Wolvaardt, Ayabonga Khaka and Trisha Chetty.
The newly nationally-contracted pair of Tazmin Brits and Nonkululeko Mlaba have also been included in the squad, with Lara Goodall and Tumi Sekhukhune also set to build on their positive experience at the 50-over World Cup.
South Africa head into the Ireland contests currently ranked second in the world in ODI cricket as they begin their ICC Women’s Championship 2022 – 2025 campaign to quality for the 2025 World Cup. The T20Is will present an opportunity to prepare for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Birmingham scheduled between 29 July – 07 August and the 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup set to be hosted in South Africa early next year.
Momentum Proteas Squad for Ireland Tour:
Anneke Bosch (Senwes Dragons), Tazmin Brits (Senwes Dragons), Trisha Chetty (Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal), Nadine de Klerk (Six Gun Grill Western Province), Lara Goodall (Six Gun Grill Western Province), Shabnim Ismail (Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal), Ayabonga Khaka (Imperial Lions), Sune Luus (Titans Ladies), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal), Raisibe Ntozakhe (Imperial Lions), Tumi Sekhukhune (Imperial Lions), Andrie Steyn (Six Gun Grill Western Province), Chloe Tryon (Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal), Delmi Tucker (Six Gun Grill Western Province), Laura Wolvaardt (Six Gun Grill Western Province)
CSA Momentum Proteas Convenor of Selectors, Clinton du Preez said:
“I am very excited with the squad selected for the Ireland series. Having some young and fringe players in the group gives us an opportunity to rotate and test their growth. Some of these players just missed out of the recently held World Cup and it is a great opportunity for them to stake claim for positions.
“Marizanne Kapp, Lizelle Lee, Masabata Klaas and Sinalo Jafta unfortunately miss out post the World Cup due to medical reasons and we are definitely looking forward to their availability in future tours,” du Preez said.
“We will grab any opportunity to provide the required rotation in the squad and to measure the high-performance and provincial players against the international standards. Delmi Tucker has been rewarded of the back of a very successful domestic season and has really made positive strides with significant contributions, and we are looking forward to seeing her transition into the international arena.
“The selection approach has been very clear and is set out to balance both the preparations towards the T20 Commonwealth Games and the T20 World Cup. With the latter a few months away, coupled with the ODI games that commences the ICC Women’s Championships (IWC) ranking points, a blend of players who can excel and add value to both formats were selected and to allow for rotation,” he added.
Momentum Proteas head coach, Hilton Moreeng commented:
“It has been a good two weeks for us as a team. We are now confident to say that each and every player in the entire squad, including high-performance players, had very good match preparation and game time post the World Cup.
“The squad going now is a combination of a lot of youngsters that we want to give a lot of exposure to and see how they go, especially in the certain skill sets we are looking for in the future. Overall, some of the experienced players are there to continue building on the successes we have had so far,” Moreeng explained.
“When we are looking at the T20Is, there is a bigger picture when it comes to that. It is a new beginning for us this year, building up towards the T20 World Cup and the Commonwealth Games.
“The most important thing is to see how we can balance the skill and where we can include youngsters to see how they go about it when given an opportunity. At the end of the day, the only way they can learn is by playing and the more senior players you have around, the more they can help them grow into those skills.
“The senior players know what is at stake. The ODIs are the ICC Women’s Championship qualifications for the next 50-over World Cup, so there is a lot at stake in the sense of that we are also looking to grow our base,” the coach added.
Momentum Proteas Tour to Ireland Itinerary:
T20 International Series:
Friday, 03 June – 1 st T20I – Ireland vs South Africa (Pembroke, Dublin)
Monday, 06 June – 2 nd T20I – Ireland vs South Africa (Pembroke, Dublin)
Wednesday, 08 June – 3 rd T20I – Ireland vs South Africa (Pembroke, Dublin)
All T20I matches will start at 16h30 local time (17h30 SA time)
One-Day International Series:
Saturday, 11 June – Ireland vs South Africa (Clontarf, Dublin)
Tuesday, 14 June– Ireland vs South Africa (Clontarf, Dublin)
Friday, 17 June – Ireland vs South Africa (Clontarf¸ Dublin)
All ODI matches will start at 10h45 local time (11h45 SA Time)
