The Proteas Women have gathered in Tshwane for a specialized skills training camp at the CSA Centre of Excellence from 5 to 8 August. This camp is crucial for the team's preparation for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, set to begin on 3 October.
Under the guidance of interim head coach Dillon du Preez, the training camp will be divided into two focused sessions: a bowling camp from 05 - 07 August and a batting camp from 6 to 8 August. These sessions are designed to fine-tune the players' skills and ensure they are in peak condition for the global tournament.
The combined training camp squad will largely consist of the Proteas Women squad that recently toured India in June and July, along with World Sports Betting Western Province batter Faye Tunnicliffe and SA U19 Women-capped duo Seshnie Naidu and Miané Smit.
The bowling sessions will see the return of young seamer Ayanda Hlubi for the first time since sustaining a groin injury towards the end of last season.
Players missing out on the preparatory camp in the capital city include captain Laura Wolvaardt and experienced allrounders Marizanne Kapp and Chloé Tryon due to their participation in this year’s Hundred competition in England.
Western Province’s Nadine de Klerk will also not attend the week-long camp as she continues her rehabilitation from an Achilles injury incurred at the backend of the T20 International series against India.
Coach du Preez expressed his confidence in the team's preparation strategy, stating, “After the India tour we took a few weeks off to recover, so our final preparation will officially start this week with a skills camp. The next 6 weeks are crucial for us. We will be playing a lot of warm-up matches with a big focus on our brand of cricket.
“The split camp this week will iron out a few skill concerns we picked up during our Indian series. This camp will also give us more one-on-one time with the players to work on their skills and make sure they are ready once we get to our warm-up matches.
“As we get closer to the World Cup, we have narrowed our group and are looking at one or two combinations. We also want to look at our spin options heading to the subcontinent. Paul Adams will be joining us this week and will be working with our spinners,” he concluded.
Audio featuring Proteas Women interim head coach Dillon du Preez may be downloaded here.
Proteas Women National Training Camp (Bowling) - Tshwane (5 to 7 August)
Anneke Bosch (Fidelity Titans), Annerie Dercksen (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Ayanda Hlubi (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions), Masabata Klaas (Fidelity Titans), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), Eliz-Mari Marx (Fidelity Titans), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Seshnie Naidu (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions), Nondumiso Shangase (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Miané Smit (Recon Tactical Free State), Delmi Tucker (World Sports Betting Western Province)
Proteas Women National TrainingCamp (Batting) - Tshwane (6 to 8 August)
Anneke Bosch (Fidelity Titans), Tazmin Brits (DP World Lions), Annerie Dercksen (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Mieke de Ridder (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Lara Goodall (World Sports Betting Western Province). Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), Eliz-Mari Marx (Fidelity Titans), Nondumiso Shangase (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Miané Smit (Recon Tactical Free State), Delmi Tucker (World Sports Betting Western Province), Faye Tunnicliffe (World Sports Betting Western Province)