With several key players rested, depth a growing concern for Proteas Women

COMMENT

While it was all fun and games watching the Proteas Women put together their highest ODI total at St George’s Park in Gqeberha earlier this week, the cricket on display was mediocre, and probably their worst game this year.

A quick glance at the Proteas Women scorecard during the second limited overs match against Ireland on Reconciliation Day would leave many with smiles on their faces. Proteas Women captain Laura Wolvaardt brought up her 12th One Day century, top-order batter Sune Luus brought up her second career century, while former captain Dane van Niekerk blasted 88 off just 47.

These are numbers that would lead many to believe that the squad is continuing from where they left off in this year’s ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, where they reached the final for the first time.

However, the brutal truth is that South Africa were at their mediocre best in a mediocre match on Tuesday.

Centurion Wolvaardt was dropped on the long-off boundary, while Van Niekerk was dropped a handful of times as Ireland Women continued to crumble under pressure. The Proteas Women themselves were poor in the field, dropping two catches, as Lara Goodall dropped Leah Paul at long leg, while Miane Smit put down Orla Prendergast at deep midwicket.

The Irish women served up long-hops and 'pies' during their bowling efforts, with 26 extras bowled. The Proteas weren't as wasteful with ball-in-hand, but still shipped 19 extras.

It is important to note that key players including Nonkululeko Mlaba, Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka, to name a few, have been rested, as Proteas Women coach Mandla Mashimbyi looks to widen squad depth with the ODI World Cup being four years away.

However, there are standards in international cricket, and they were not met in Gqeberha.

For many of us who came out to the stadium with our families and friends, looking to support a team that has done so well over the past three years, we returned home disappointed. The Proteas Women’s bowling attack was simply diabolical, and Ireland’s 301, their highest ODI total, is testament to that.

The bowlers bowled way too short and lacked consistency in line as well. With the likes of Tumi Sekhukhune and Nondumiso Shangase in the team, both being bowlers with World Cup experience, they would have been expected to lead from the front.

Eliz-Mari Marx bowled five wides, while debutant Leah Jones bowled eight of them, as the Proteas Women’s bowling attack struggled at St George’s Park.

Given that Kapp is 35-years old, and that most of the regulars in the Proteas Women’s bowling attack are in their 30s — including Khaka and Masabata Klaas — there is work to be done, as depth is not promising at the moment.

The Proteas Women return to action at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Friday (start 2pm), where they will play Ireland Women in the third and final ODI, and there will be expectation for them to put on a much more clinical performance.