Proteas Women opt to rest experienced pace duo for home T20 series against England

By SABC Sport
11th November 2024

Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka have been rested for the Proteas Women's three-match T20 series at home against England later this month but will return for the ODIs that will follow.

The experienced pace duo will sit out the first leg of the multi-format series that also includes three ODIs and a one-off Test match in December.

Additionally, leg-spinner Seshnie Naidu will also miss the series to focus on her academic commitments as she completes her matric exams.

All-rounders Eliz-Mari Marx and Nondumiso Shangase have been recalled to the squad which shows no further changes from the group that reached the T20 World Cup final but lost against New Zealand.

Kapp and Khaka will rejoin the squad for the 50-over matches which also sees the return of fast bowler Ayanda Hlubi and left-handed batter Lara Goodall.

The Proteas Women's head coach Dillon du Preez said they will use the T20 matches to give opportunities to fringe players with the ODI games part of the ICC Women's Championship that guarantees qualification for next year's 50-over World Cup.

Du Preez said: "We know that we need to make sure that our planning is spot on and so far it's been interesting.

"We would like to have the same approach as we had in the recent T20 World Cup. We would still like to grow as a team and continue working on our T20 playing philosophy.

"So we decided to give one or two players a chance in the T20I series to prove themselves and also to give us a chance to look at what stock we have available and what skill we need to work on."

The T20 series will start in East London on 24 November with the ODI matches followed by the ODI contests from 4 December.

The Proteas squad for the one-off Test match, to be played in Bloemfontein from 15 December, will be announced in due course.

Proteas Women T20I squad: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Sune Luus, Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, Chloe Tryon, Faye Tunnicliffe

ODI squad: 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, Sune Luus, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Chloe Tryon