England’s women’s cricket team is gearing up for a tough start in the ICC Women’s World Cup, facing South Africa in their opener. Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt knows the challenge ahead, especially when it comes to South Africa’s skipper Laura Wolvaardt. “She’s a big player for them—if you let her get going, it’s hard to get her out,” Sciver-Brunt told reporters. The plan? Stick to strategies against Wolvaardt and grab early wickets to disrupt South Africa’s strong opening pair.
England, who have won the tournament twice before, hope to kick things off with a victory. South Africa, no slouches themselves, have made the semifinals three times. Wolvaardt has been in top form, smashing a century in their recent series win against Pakistan in Asia. This year alone, she’s racked up 348 runs in nine innings, averaging 38.66, with one ton and one fifty. Her partnership with opener Tazmin Brits has been unstoppable since 2023—they’ve piled on 1,536 runs together in 26 innings, averaging 59.07. That’s the best opening stand in women’s cricket right now, beating out India’s Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur’s 1,316 runs.
Former England captain Heather Knight agrees Wolvaardt is key. “South Africa is a very good team—we played them recently and had some success, but they’ve got brilliant players,” Knight said. She praised Wolvaardt’s calm leadership and noted how her batting has leveled up since taking the captaincy in 2021. “She’s going to be a key player. We need to keep her quiet, but it’ll be a real test.”
Wolvaardt leads South Africa in women’s ODI runs with 4,651 in 110 matches, averaging nearly 49, including nine centuries and 35 fifties. As captain, she’s even better: 1,523 runs in 32 innings at 56.40 average, with six tons and seven fifties. Her team has 16 wins, 15 losses, and one no-result under her watch.
Brits is firing on all cylinders too, scoring 643 runs this year in nine innings at a whopping 91.85 average. She’s notched four centuries and a fifty, including a hat-trick of tons recently—one against West Indies and two versus Pakistan. Her best? An unbeaten 171.
England’s squad features Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Em Arlott, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Linsey Smith, and Danni Wyatt-Hodge.
South Africa counters with Laura Wolvaardt (c), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Sune Luus, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, and Chloe Tryon.
Fans can’t wait for this ICC Women’s World Cup clash—will England silence South Africa’s dynamic duo?
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