South Africa announce 15-member squad for the women's ODI series against New Zealand

The year 2020 is set to be a year of Twenty20 cricket. There will be two World titles up for grabs as both the leading men and women cricketers of the world converge in Australia within a space of six months. First up with the Women’s edition of the T20 World Cup which will take place in the month of March, and every side is gearing up to prepare for the marquee event.

And, in a bid to prepare for the upcoming event, South Africa Women’s team will be looking to revive their fledgeling fortunes with a strong show on their upcoming tour of New Zealand. The Proteas Women will play three ODIs against a strong White Ferns’ outfit before the five Twenty20 Internationals take centerstage. And, while the T20 squad is yet to be announced, Cricket South Africa, on Thursday, named a strong 15-women squad for the One-day Internationals.

Dane Van Niekerk returns for the tour of New Zealand

The squad marks the comeback of a plethora of seniors players including skipper Dane van Niekerk, who makes a return after a lengthy layoff, as does hard-hitting batter Chloe Tyron.

Meanwhile, with the T20 World Cup squad set to be announced on January 13, coach Hilton Moreeng has set sights on the tour of New Zealand as being the ideal launchpad of their World Cup preparations and also as an opportunity to gain valuable ODI championship points.

“We have had a good break thus far and all of us are relishing the prospect of facing New Zealand on their home conditions. This tour offers us a great opportunity to garner much-needed points for the ICC Women’s Championship, but also great preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup. Both the ODI and T20 series will be challenging against a very strong New Zealand outfit, however, we need that challenge as it will help us measure our gameness for the all-important T20 spectacle in Australia. This team has come far and we are at a point where we are ready to be counted amongst the elite.”

South Africa had a forgettable tour of India where they lost the T20I series 1-4 and were clean swept in the subsequent three-match ODI series. The team was plagued with injuries and coach Hilton Moreeng is stressing on having a consistent squad as they aim to revive their fortunes.

“We are looking to have a consistent group, there’s no doubt about that and I know we as the management team are obviously absorbed to pick a consistent team because our squad is starting to perform at a level that we want, so it makes our job that much more difficult and that is what you want when you’re heading into a tour of this magnitude. The players have realized the importance of coming to the party and this will go a long way in ensuring that we rise on the rankings with good performances against quality opposition.” Hilton Moreeng said as quoted by cricketworld.com.

The three-match One-day series will commence on January 25th at Eden Park Outer Oval in Auckland.

South Africa Women squad for the ODI series against New Zealand-

Dane Van Niekerk (c), Laura Wolvaardt, Lizelle Lee, Mignon Du Preez, Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, Chloe Tryon (vc), Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka,  Masabata Klaas, Tumi Sekhukhune, Trisha Chetty, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Nadine De Klerk, Nondumiso Shangase

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