JOHANNESBURG - The South African women’s cricket team coach Hilton Moreeng will board the plane for Sri Lanka on Friday morning, delighted that he has a team in form and that two key players have been reintegrated after bans for disciplinary reasons.
South Africa will participate in a qualifying tournament for the Women’s World Cup which takes place in England, and just need to finish among the top four teams to take up their spot in the June showpiece.
Fresh off a 4-1 series triumph in Bangladesh - in conditions similar to what they will face in Sri Lanka - Moreeng is pleased with where the team are from a confidence perspective and that the return of Trisha Chetty and Shabnim Ismail will only strengthen the side.
“Getting them back in has been very smooth,” Moreeng said of Ismail and Chetty’s return. The pair were suspended last November for contravening Cricket SA’s disciplinary code and missed high profile series against New Zealand and Australia.
“They add immense quality to our side. The other girls have been very happy to have them back. Even during their suspension, we’ve kept them on fitness programmes and they’ve both come back very sharp.
"You can see their skills, they’re what we need. Both are aware that playing for their country is a privilege and they’re desperate to prove themselves again.”
Dane van Niekerk’s team took plenty of lessons from series losses to New Zealand and Australia which Moreeng said they must apply when they start their campaign in Sri Lanka next Tuesday against Pakistan.
Moreeng was pleased with the consistency shown against Bangladesh recently, particularly on the batting front. Lizelle Lee, Mignon du Preez and Andrie Steyn were the outstanding contributors against Bangladesh, all three scoring over 150 runs in the series, with six half-centuries between them.
Lee was the best batter in Bangladesh scoring 268 runs at an average of 53.60. She set an example Moreeng wants the rest to follow.
South Africa have always managed to off-set their batting shortcomings with their bowling and in spinning conditions, as was the case in Bangladesh, and what the team will find in Sri Lanka, the bowling unit is ideally suited.
The teams are divided in two groups of five each for the preliminary league. Fifth-ranked India, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Thailand form Group A, while sixth-ranked South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Scotland and Papua New Guinea form Group B.
The top three sides from either group will advance to the Super Six stage while also carrying forward points they earn against sides which have progressed from their group.