WHILE Temba Bavuma is set to lead the Proteas Test squad in the World Test Championship at Lord’s today, Proteas Women captain Laura Wolvaardt is bracing to lead her side in the first of three One Day Internationals (ODIs) in the Caribbean today.
After having a rather poor tour of Sri Lanka last month, where the side failed to reach the final of the Tri-Series against the hosts and India Women, Wolvaardt welcomes senior player Marizanne Kapp, who missed the Sri Lanka tour.
Kapp is set to play her 150th ODI at the Cave Hill today, joining the likes of Mignon du Preez to cross the 150 ODI games mark.
Wolvaardt told the media on Tuesday that they are excited to welcome a player of the calibre of Kapp back into the squad.
“It is massive (to have Kapp back into the side). I think Kapi is obviously the best bowler in the world, and she bats pretty well as well. She’s like two players in one, so it’s awesome to have her back in the lineup,” said Wolvaardt.
“I think just her experience as well, she’s been in the Caribbean a bunch of times, so just having that knowledge and being able to chat to her, I think, will be massive for the series. Just the presence she has within the group and within the seamers group as well.
“I know she chats a lot to some of the young seamers like Dirkie (Annerie Dercksen) and helps them develop their skills. She has so much to offer. I’m very excited to have her back.
“Knowing Kapi, she’ll probably not want to make it a thing (reaching 150 ODIs). She’s quite humble in the way that she plays and doesn’t really look at milestones like that.
“But I’m sure when she takes the field for the 150th, we’ll try and make it a big deal and make sure it’s a special moment for her. Obviously, playing that many games for your country is something super special and deserves to be recognised, even though she may not want to admit it.”
Kapp’s presence will boost the side’s chances of bouncing back after having had a poor Tri-Series in Sri Lanka.
On the other hand, the West Indies are also coming from a dismal tour of England, where they were whitewashed in both the three-match ODI and T20I series.
However, Hayley Matthews returns to the West Indies Women’s side as well as Chinelle Henry, a set of players who are known to be game changers.
“They didn’t have the best series over in England, but they have made a couple of changes. Hayley Matthews is back. Chinelle Henry is back as well, and she’s been a key player for them in the last few months,” Wolvaardt told the media on Tuesday.
“You can never take a team lightly in their home conditions. It could be a completely different ball game here with them being at home, having knowledge about the ground that we’re playing on.
“They’re definitely not a team that you can take lightly at all. They’re a team that can easily take the game away from you with much power they have. We’re still going to do our due diligence with our planning and make sure that we’re on top of our game come tomorrow.”
The first of three ODIs between the two sides is set to get underway at 4 pm SAST on Wednesday.
