South Africa’s opening batter Tazmin Brits says the Proteas Women are focused on fine-tuning their performance as they prepare to face Sri Lanka in their next ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup clash in Colombo on October 17. Despite winning three of their four matches so far, Brits admits that the side is still searching for a complete, polished display, one that reflects their true potential.
The Proteas have shown flashes of brilliance throughout the tournament but have also endured frustrating batting collapses and moments of inconsistency in the field. While their victories have showcased depth and resilience, Brits insists that the team remains driven to erase “soft dismissals” and sharpen their execution in all departments.
“We’ve had quite a few discussions. I mean, that’s what Mandla likes to say, ‘if you lose, as long as you learn,’ he likes to say that. That’s a big thing,” Brits said. “So, we are definitely learning as we’re going along. I mean, we’re quick to say stick to the basics. But once again, cricket is a very humbling game.
“We’re just making sure that we do stick to the basics in the beginning, maybe not lose too many wickets up front and maybe just softer dismissals. I think we’re losing our wickets not to great balls but maybe just reckless or maybe less focusing. So, maybe just looking at those things, grinding it out a bit longer.”
The Proteas’ batting unit has not yet hit full stride – something Brits believes could be a “scary prospect” for their future opponents once everything clicks. Even without a flawless performance, South Africa have managed to grind out important wins, reflecting their growing maturity as a side.
“We’ve managed to win quite a few games, and that’s actually the scary part due to the fact that we haven’t actually clicked like we normally would as a batting unit. But I guess, like we always say, that is cricket,” Brits said.
After suffering a tough loss to England in their opening fixture, South Africa bounced back strongly to beat New Zealand, a result Brits said was crucial for their belief and momentum.
“A lot of times, we always say that the first game is the pressure game. Although we did lose against England, I’m glad that we managed to come back against New Zealand,” she reflected.
“I think confidence-wise, that was the best thing that could happen for our team. I think that also contributed to these very near finishes and just the capability of the team.”
As the World Cup heads into its decisive stages, South Africa will be eager to iron out their inconsistencies and deliver a commanding all-round performance against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Brits’ focus on composure and execution captures the spirit of a team determined to grow stronger with every match. With unity, self-belief, and a clear mindset to learn from every outing, the Proteas Women are shaping into a formidable contender- one that knows the best is yet to come.
(Quotes sourced from IOL)
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