The ICC T20 World Cup 2023 marked a historic milestone for South Africa, as the hosts advanced to their inaugural World Cup final, encompassing both genders and formats. With the 2024 iteration nearing, let’s delve into South Africa’s extraordinary journey thus far.
Since their inaugural appearance in the 2009 edition, South Africa has engaged in 33 World Cup matches, achieving victory in 14 of them. The year 2023 proved to be a dream voyage for the Proteas, finishing as runners-up. As the squad readies itself for the forthcoming World Cup, they face a considerable challenge—competing in spinner-friendly environments, which are in stark contrast to the quick pitches they are accustomed to at home. This time around, they will also be without their iconic fast bowler Shabnim Ismail, who announced her retirement after the 2023 World Cup.
In spite of the obstacles, South Africa has had extensive practice over the past year. They have participated in five T20 series against subcontinent nations or in subcontinental terrains, including a current series in Multan against Pakistan. Numerous training camps have also been established to groom the players for the challenges ahead in the UAE, where the World Cup is set to take place.
Proteas batter Sune Luus expressed her views on this preparation, “I believe that competing against all the subcontinent teams gave us an excellent shot. We have truly been striving to improve our performance against spin as a batting unit and gain a deeper comprehension of our strategies against it,” Luus conveyed to Independent Newspapers.
Sune Luus, the previous captain who guided South Africa to their landmark final, has returned to bowling. She holds the record for the best-ever T20I statistics for a South African bowler, with an astonishing 5 for 8. Reflecting on her all-round contribution, she remarked, “I want to keep contributing in every facet of the game, so (bowling) off-spin is something I experimented with, and it became a viable option. It simply provides the team with an additional choice.”
After relinquishing the captaincy last year, Luus passed the leadership to Laura Wolvaardt. Regarding this transition, she noted, “Laura has a year’s experience in captaincy now, and I feel like she’s established her footing and rhythm quite well. Naturally, a World Cup is a different ballgame, but she knows she can always reach out to me, and I do my utmost to assist her in managing the finer details on the field.”
Luus also recognized how stepping down from captaincy has permitted her to concentrate more on her own game, “Captaining your country brings with it numerous expectations and pressures, so indeed, I feel somewhat more relaxed on the field, focusing on myself. My role in the middle order is entirely based on my ability to tackle spin and ensure the scoreboard keeps moving. T20 cricket is a game of ups and downs, so all batters from No. 5 must remain adaptable, depending on the match scenario.”
Concerning the external pressure accompanying being the runners-up, Luus remains unflustered, stating, “I don’t perceive any additional pressure. I believe we are familiar with what it feels like to compete in a final, and we would love to find ourselves in that position again. Hopefully, with last year’s experience, we can cross the finish line if the opportunity arises.”
The stage is set for the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, which has been moved from Bangladesh to the UAE due to political and social turmoil. From October 3rd to 23rd, ten teams will vie in 23 matches throughout Dubai and Sharjah. South Africa is positioned in Group B, alongside England, Bangladesh, West Indies, and Scotland. Their campaign commences on October 4th with a face-off against the West Indies, as they aspire to build on their stellar performance from last year.
Image Source: Sune Luus @ Instagram
