The Proteas Women are testing their mettle in New Zealand, but there’s work to be done. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
The South Africa senior national Women's team are currently in New Zealand competing in a five-match series against the White Ferns, as they continue sharpening their skills ahead of the 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup in the United Kingdom this coming winter.
Here, Ongama Gcwabe highlights three missing pieces in the Proteas Women's game as the race to get ready for the showpiece event heats up.
There are very few players in the world who could replace the skills, knowledge and sheer determination of South Africa's premier all-rounder Marizanne Kapp. Kapp has been rested and missed the ongoing tour to focus on her rehabilitation and return-to-play protocol following a recent illness.
The all-rounder initially fell ill during the third T20I against Pakistan last month, where she experienced discomfort after bowling her spell and was unable to bat. The experienced player would subsequently miss the ODI series against Pakistan and the ongoing tour to New Zealand.
Kapp's absence is certainly being felt by the team, despite youngsters such as Annerie Dercksen and Kayla Reyneke having stepped up in New Zealand. As the T20 World Cup looms large, South Africa will be hoping that the all-rounder will be ready to take the field, as she is an important player for South Africa with both bat and ball.
One of the biggest concerns for South Africa in the shortest formats of the game has been their inability to score big runs in the first power play. At times, the team has struggled to take advantage of the batter-friendly conditions in the first power play.
During this tour, the players and management have been vocal that they have to get it right at the top of the order and put big runs on the board, allowing what is a power-packed middle-order to play their shots when they come in to bat.
The repositioning of Laura Wolvaardt from opening the batting to number three has been very interesting, with the management likely looking to make her the glue of the entire batting unit, a player that the batting group can bat around.
Wolvaardt had an excellent ODI World Cup last year, and her power hitting certainly improved, an improvement that makes her an ideal batter to come in at three to maintain and increase the tempo that the openers had set.
South Africa's Ayabonga Khaka has been excellent in New Zealand thus far, with the fast bowler managing to take wickets with the new ball in Mount Maunganui and Hamilton. Also, experienced fast bowler Masabata Klaas has been on song during the ongoing New Zealand series.
If the bowlers are able to maintain the current form, and given that Kapp is likely to come back into the side for future tours and the T20 World Cup, the side will be a serious threat.