South Africa’s build-up to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 has been filled with hope, anticipation, and a sense of unfinished business. After reaching consecutive global semi-finals in the 50-over format and twice falling just short in Women’s T20 World Cup finals, the Proteas feel that the elusive world title is within reach.
For opening batter Tazmin Brits, one of the most influential voices in the side, the key to unlocking that breakthrough could lie in the hands of one of the team’s youngest-ever members — 18-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Karabo Meso.
Meso, who was first thrown into the international spotlight at just 16 in a T20I against Sri Lanka, has since grown in stature at domestic and international level. Now, as she prepares for her first major ICC tournament, she has the full backing of a seasoned campaigner in Brits.
“She’s a great talent,” said Brits, reflecting on her experiences batting alongside the youngster at the Lions. “I’m very excited for what she can bring to this team and I’m hoping we allow her the environment that she needs to showcase her talents.”
Those words carry weight. Brits has not only seen Meso up close but has also built match-winning partnerships with her in South Africa’s domestic circuit. The two shared a memorable stand against the Titans earlier this year — a glimpse of what Proteas fans may soon witness on the world stage. For Brits, the impression left by Meso isn’t just about runs scored. It’s about the intelligence and maturity she already brings to the game.
“She’s very quick between the wickets and she’s got a good cricket brain, which being a keeper, helps a lot,” Brits explained. “She knows where to put field placings and when to take singles.”
That ability to read the game, so often a marker of experience, is part of what makes Meso such an exciting prospect. Despite being six years younger than the next youngest member of the South African squad, she has already shown she can hold her own at senior level. The challenge will be in translating that potential to the pressure-cooker environment of a World Cup. If she succeeds, she could be one of the breakout stars of the tournament.
Brits certainly believes the teenager is equipped for the leap. “I think if you’re good enough and you showcase that; the world will definitely take note,” she said.
It is not the first time South Africa has placed faith in youthful energy to balance out experience in a major competition. But this time, the emphasis is different. Unlike before, the Proteas enter this campaign not merely hoping to challenge but genuinely believing they can cross the final hurdle.
For Brits, now 34 and possibly at the peak of her own batting form, the presence of a fearless youngster like Meso in the setup is more than just a selection decision — it is a statement of intent. The team has groomed its next generation and is ready to unleash it at the biggest stage of all.
What stands out in Brits’ assessment is the balance she strikes between encouragement and expectation. She is not afraid to acknowledge that international cricket is a “different ball game” but insists that exposure and trust will bring out the best in Meso. There is both mentoring and belief in her words, the kind of support young talent thrives on.
For a side still chasing a maiden ICC crown, the emergence of Meso may well provide the spark they need. Every successful team tends to have a young player who redefines the conversation at a World Cup, someone who plays without fear and lifts the collective belief. Brits’ endorsement suggests that South Africa sees Meso as exactly that figure.
As the Proteas prepare for the subcontinental conditions that will test their adaptability, the mix of established performers and rising stars appears stronger than ever. Brits, with her wealth of runs and experience, will shoulder much of the responsibility at the top of the order. But if her words are anything to go by, it is Meso’s fresh energy that could help tip the scales from near-misses to glory.
“She’s young, yes,” Brits reminded, “but I think talent outweighs anything no matter your age.”
With those words, South Africa’s veteran batter has thrown her support behind the teenager. The cricketing world will now watch to see if Karabo Meso can repay that faith and, in doing so, write the start of a new chapter in South African women’s cricket history.
(Quotes sourced from ICC)
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