South Africa Rests Key Players

South Africa’s Women’s Cricket team has opted to rest seasoned players Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka for the upcoming T20I series against England, focusing on broadening their pool of players in the short-format game. In their place, medium-pacer Eliz-Mari Marx, a standout in the CSA Women’s Pro20 series, and all-rounder Nondumiso Shangase have been brought into the squad. Both Kapp and Khaka will rejoin the team for the ODI series following the T20Is.

The T20 lineup will also proceed without wicketkeeper-batter Mieke de Ridder and Seshnie Naidu, who recently represented South Africa in the T20 World Cup. Faye Tunnicliffe will take over as wicketkeeper, while Naidu is completing her final school exams before preparing for the U-19 T20 World Cup in Malaysia in January.

Joining the squad after competing in the WBBL are captain Laura Wolvaardt and all-rounders Nadine de Klerk and Chloe Tryon, all set to return from Australia in time for the first T20 match on November 24. Bowlers Ayanda Hlubi and Tumi Sekhukhune, part of the T20 World Cup squad but yet to play, might find home conditions more favorable for a potential debut in the series. Interim coach Dillon du Preez aims to build on South Africa's strong performance at the recent T20 World Cup, where the team reached their second consecutive final.

Du Preez expressed a desire to maintain the same mindset as the last T20 World Cup, despite the next being two years away, pinpointing the team's commitment to evolving their T20 strategy. He also shared that the series would allow new players to showcase their abilities and enable the coaching staff to assess skills they could further develop.

For the ODI squad, South Africa has introduced batter Lara Goodall and experienced seamer Masabata Klaas, with Ayanda Hlubi potentially making her ODI debut. The ODI matches are part of the Women’s Championship, a qualification pathway for the upcoming ODI World Cup in India. With 23 points, South Africa currently ranks fourth, trailing behind Australia and England, who have already qualified alongside host nation India.

The tour also includes a Test match in Bloemfontein from December 15 to 18, with the squad for that fixture to be announced later. The T20Is are set for November 24, 27, and 30, while the ODIs will be held on December 4, 8, and 11.

South Africa Women’s Squads for England Series

T20I Squad: Laura Wolvaardt (captain), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Suné Luus, Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, Chloé Tryon, Faye Tunnicliffe.

ODI Squad: Laura Wolvaardt (captain), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder, Lara Goodall, Ayanda Hlubi, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Chloé Tryon.