The debut of women’s cricket at the Commonwealth Games is now only a sleep away as live action in the T20 format unfolds tomorrow at 11 AM local time from Edgbaston with a rich cricketing rivalry in the making that between Australia and India.
With all sides closing on their final XI, the list of absentees for South Africa only seems to be getting bigger. After Dane Van Niekerk, Lizelle Lee, Marizanne Kapp and Tumi Sekhukhune it now is Trisha Chetty who is on the unwanted list.
Dan Van Niekerk after missing out on the ICC 50-over World Cup will now be missing out on the Games event as she continues to nurse her injured ankle and is on the road to recovery. She’s been one of South Africa’s best batters who accelerates and her experience of 1877 runs in 77 innings and also her captaincy is what South Africa will be missing. Lizelle Lee early this month (July) announced her retirement from all forms of international cricket after a reported rift between Cricket South Africa (CSA) and her. Lizelle Lee was another crucial member of the team who used to take on attacks and is most suited to this format of play with 1896 runs in 82 innings.
Yet another heartbreak for South African fans!
After Marizanne Kapp and Tumi Sekhukhune, Trisha Chetty has been ruled out of the Games due to a back injury.#CricketTwitter #B2022 #Birmingham2022 pic.twitter.com/D9h8o3wsrh
— Female Cricket #B2022 (@imfemalecricket) July 28, 2022
A family emergency back home had Marizanne Kapp fly back to South Africa and miss the T20I series against England which was a part of their recently concluded multi-format series that England won 14-2. Marizanne Kapp is South Africa’s strength, she’s one of those who with both bat and ball wins games for South Africa. Tumi Sekhukhune down with a groin injury is set to miss the Games as she’ll be undergoing rehabilitation in South Africa. The recent on the list is the experienced keeper-batter, Trisha Chetty who with a back injury will not be a part of the South African contingent. She’s scored over 1000 runs in the format in 72 innings, but more than the batter it surely is the keeper that South Africa will be missing.
Replacements in all-rounder, Delmi Tucker and Tazmin Brits have been called in. 25-year-old, Delmi Tucker has played 3 T20I games for South Africa and has got to only 16 runs. It for sure isn’t a start she would have wished for, but here’s a chance more. Tazmin Brits after a disappointing series against Ireland was dropped, but called back during the final T20I leg in the series against England as Marizanne Kapp’s cover and did well in an innings with a 59 to her name. Both, Delmi Tucker and Tazmin Brits stand a chance to revive their careers at one of the best global stages and make good names for themselves as they both stand in contention to make it to the South African XI right from the opening game.
SOUTH AFRICA’S SQUAD FOR THE GAMES :
Sune Luus (C), Chloe Tryon, Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Mignon du Preez, Lara Goodall, Shabnim Ismail, Sinalo Jafta, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Delmi Tucker, Laura Wolvaardt.
Groups
GROUP A : Australia, India, Pakistan, Barbados
GROUP B : South Africa, New Zealand, England, Sri Lanka
South Africa’s Schedule for Commonwealth Games
JULY 30: South Africa v New Zealand (11 AM local, 12 PM SAST)
AUGUST 2: South Africa v England (11 AM local, 12 PM SAST)
AUGUST 4: South Africa v Sri Lanka (11 AM local, 12 PM SAST)
SEMI FINALS: Aug 6 (11 AM local, 12 PM SAST) and (6 PM local, 7 PM SAST)
BRONZE MEDAL MATCH: Aug 7 (10 AM local, 11 AM SAST)
GOLD MEDAL MATCH: Aug 7 (5 PM local, 6 PM SAST)
*All matches will be played at Edgbaston