With Laura Wolvaardt having performed well as the interim captain for the tours against Pakistan and New Zealand, she was confirmed as the full-time captain.
CSA appoints Wolvaardt as full-time captain
South African women are scheduled to play a 3-match T20I series starting on December 03, 2023. South Africa had made T20I call-ups for Ayanda Hlubi and Eliz Mari Marx for the 3-match T20I home series against Bangladesh. Marizanne who played for Sydney Thunder in WBBL has been rested for the home ground T20I series but will return to the side for the ODI series.
Laura Wolvaardt was named as interim captain for the side after Sune Luus stepped down from the post after leading South Africa in the World Cup finals in the T20 tournament. A CSA official said Luus made the decision to “focus on her cricket” but the main story is something else. She was one of the players who were unhappy with the coach Hilton Moreeng after more than a decade in charge.
Chole Tryon applied for a leave during the Pakistan series and CSA was left with the option of choosing the player between Wolvaardt, Marizanne, and Nadine de Klerk as an interim captain.
But on reviewing the experience of leading the team in ODIs Wolvaardt was named as captain. Ayabonga Khaka, Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk
“Having Laura Wolvaardt as the official captain, together with a blend of young and experienced players bodes well for our succession planning,” Clinton du Preez, convenor of selectors, said.
“It will also assist within the excitement we have around the squad in giving young players an opportunity and therefore we are looking forward to seeing them put up their hand and make impactful performances in this upcoming tour.”
Hulbi was part of the South Africa squad at Under-19 T20 World Cup 2023 and returned three wickets in four matches in the competition.
“The inclusion of Ayanda Hlubi and Eliz-Mari Marx gives great confidence to rewarding performances at the professional level,” du Preez said. “They have been instrumental with their domestic performances in the past season for their respective provinces.”
Annerie Dercksen also joined the 15-member side after completing full recovery from the finger fracture that kept her out of the Pakistan tour.
“For the T20Is, this is where we are going to look, where possible, to blend in youngsters and give an opportunity to expose them at this level to keep growing the base,” head coach Hilton Moreeng said. “Overall, we have a lot of good youngsters coming through and the squad is becoming stronger and stronger every day with a more challenging environment, so we as a team are looking forward to that.
“It’s another opportunity for some of these youngsters to show what they can do while not losing sight of what we want to achieve overall when it comes to the entire tour.”
South Africa Squad for Bangladesh T20I series
Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder, Lara Goodall, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Masabata Klaas, Sune Luus, Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, Delmi Tucker
