CAPE TOWN – The Proteas women’s team are set to blood two new caps during three-match T20 series against Bangladesh next month.
South Africa Emerging players Tazmin Brits and Stacey Lackay have both been included in the national team’s squad for the very first time in a series which will form a pivotal role in the side’s preparation for the ICC Women’s World T20 set to take place in the West Indies in November later this year.
The selectors, though, resisted making any changes to the ODI squad that were defeated by ICC World Cup runners-up India 2-1 back in February.
“For us it’s exciting to get together as a squad and to prepare for the tour coming up,” coach Hilton Moreeng said. “After our last tour (against India), there were a couple of skills that I wanted to see the players brush up on and sharpen up before we got back together for this tour and I’m looking forward to seeing the progress made.
“There’s a lot of cricket coming up this year, including a World T20, but the priority now is Bangladesh and we want to make sure that we are thoroughly prepared for them. The players have played a bit of cricket recently with the CSA Provincial League and the CSA Women’s Week recently concluded and it was good to see the quality of cricket that was on display.
“The current SA Emerging Women’s triangular has also shown us that there’s a lot of exciting talent coming through and it’s really encouraging for us as coaches to see that the base is growing nicely,” he added.
Moreeng is, though, excited to see how Britz and Lackay shape up, which could be crucial to creating greater depth in the Proteas women’s squad.
“We’re also looking forward to seeing what the new faces, Tazmin Brits and Stacey Lackay, will bring to the T20 set up. The two of them are the perfect example of hard work paying off and players putting up their hands and making opportunities count. We hope to see that same quality of play as they have shown for their domestic teams and the Emerging team, brought into the national team space,” Moreeng added.
Lizelle Lee and Dané van Niekerk in action for the Proteas in a T20 match against India. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
The team will meet for a pre-tour camp at the CSA Centre of Excellence in Pretoria from 27 April ahead of the five-match ODI and three-match T20 series that will be played across three venues in Potchefstroom, Kimberley and Bloemfontein starting on May 4 running through until May 20.
Momentum Proteas ODI squad:
Dané van Niekerk (captain, Eastern Province), Lizelle Lee (North West), Chloe Tryon (KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins), Mignon du Preez (Northerns), Trisha Chetty (Gauteng), Marizanne Kapp (Eastern Province), Shabnim Ismail (Gauteng), Ayabonga Khaka (Gauteng), Masabata Klaas (North West), Raisibe Ntozakhe (Gauteng), Suné Luus (Northerns), Laura Wolvaardt (Western Province), Andrie Steyn (Western Province), Zintle Mali (Border).
Momentum Proteas T20 squad:
Dané van Niekerk (captain, Eastern Province), Lizelle Lee (North West), Chloe Tryon (KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins), Mignon du Preez (Northerns), Marizanne Kapp (Eastern Province), Shabnim Ismail (Gauteng), Ayabonga Khaka (Gauteng), Masabata Klaas (North West), Raisibe Ntozakhe (Gauteng), Suné Luus (Northerns), Laura Wolvaardt (Western Province), Zintle Mali (Border), Stacey Lackay (Western Province), Tazmin Brits (North West).
Management:
Hilton Moreeng (Head Coach), Sedibu Mohlaba (Manager), Abram Ramoadi (Performance Analyst), Russell Clarke (Strength & Conditioning Coach), Molebatsi Theletsane (Physiotherapist), Sipokazi Sokanyile (Media Liaison).