Women’s cricket for the very first time is on the Commonwealth Games schedule, the upcoming, Birmingham edition of the Commonwealth Games will see women’s cricket mark its debut on 29 July. As we now are a few days away from the start of the Games below are a few names we’ll miss watching during the action.
1. DANE VAN NIEKERK
South African regular skipper and attacking batter, Dane van Niekerk will be a big miss for South Africa. Dane has missed a lot of cricketing action including the ICC Women’s World Cup that was played early this year in New Zealand due to an injured ankle. Dane batting with a strike rate of 94.94 in 70 innings has gone on to score as many as 1877 runs with the highest score of 90* to her name. Dane the batter will be a miss, but not to forget, Dane the skipper too will be a serious miss for South Africa.
2. TAMMY BEAUMONT
Attacking opener, Tammy Beaumont has been overlooked to youngsters who can bat with more intent. Tammy batting with a healthy strike rate of 108.37 has scored 1721 in 83 innings and has the highest score of 116. Tammy Beaumont often has run on 2 extremes in the format and that might have been a reason for her omission. Tammy Beaumont too has a lot of shots in her books, but the confidence in playing them hasn’t been a lot.
3. MARIZANNE KAPP
Experienced star all-rounder, Marizanne Kapp will be another crucial miss for South Africa who’s returned home from the South African camp due to a family emergency. Marizanne Kapp has been a crucial part of the South African team for a very long and with the team already not performing well, they will miss both services of Marizanne Kapp, with bat and ball in hand. Batting with a strike rate of 94.40, Kapp has scored 1046 runs in 71 innings and has picked up 66 wickets in 73 innings with the best figures of 4/6.
4. SOPHIE MOLINEUX
Australian spinner, Sophie Molineux has missed a lot of cricket action due to a left foot stress fracture. Sophie bowls for Australia in crunch periods and has picked up several key wickets. She’s been bowling with a very good economy rate of 5.94 and has picked up 26 wickets in 27 innings with the best figures of 4/16.
5. ANYA SHRUBSOLE
English pacer, Anya Shrubsole who announced her retirement post the Women’s World Cup aged 30 will be a big miss at the Games. Anya has picked up 102 wickets in 79 innings at a very good economy of 5.95 with best figures of 5/11. A fifer in a T20I, 24 balls to claim one, simply shows how good a bowler Anya Shrubsole was and also has always been handy with the bat in hand.
6. LIZELLE LEE
Another South African on the list and names have only been one better than the other, which is a very sad bit. Lizelle Lee aged 30 announced her retirement early in July 2022 after a rift with the Cricket South Africa (CSA) board. The attacking batter who could simply do it all for South Africa batted with a healthy strike rate of 110.61 and scored 1896 runs in 82 innings, numbers alone show the class a player Lizelle Lee was. Lee has as many as 13 fifties and also a century to her name in the shortest, T20I format alone.
7. SHIKHA PANDEY
It’s been a strange case of overlooking by selectors towards Shikha Pandey. She made her name on the global stage based on her skill set and the swing she produces. Shikha with a slightly expensive economy rate of 6.47 has picked up 40 wickets in 51 innings, the numbers could give an idea as to why she’s been overlooked, but at times it’s simply more than just stats. She’s a strong wicket-taker bowler who also adds crucial runs. Shikha Pandey wasn’t picked up in the India Squad for World Cup played earlier this year.
