The Anneke Bosch Cricket World Cup diary

Anneke Bosch debuted for the Proteas against Australia in 2016 and has played nine ODIs. She was named as one of three travelling reserves for the World Cup in New Zealand, only to be ruled out just before the event with a fractured right thumb.

Bosch will nevertheless be keeping a close eye on her teammates as they chase cricket’s ultimate prize and will be sharing her insight and opinion throughout the tournament, right here on her blog.

Monday, 4 April – Aussie dominance and my dream team

Australia, who completed the 2022 Women’s World Cup unbeaten with nine wins from nine matches, must be congratulated for their 71-run victory over England and their seventh world title.

From a first-hand account, having been involved with Brisbane Heat in last season’s Women’s Big Bash League, there are so many things that put them ahead of everyone else. I think it starts with their structures in Australia coupled with their development programmes. Their level of state cricket is way different than any other country I’ve seen or heard of. I had a really good time in the Big Bash and learned so much more about cricket and how to approach the game. The way they train along with the way they think about cricket, analyse the game and plan for opponents is way above others.

I would definitely love to play in the next instalment of the Big Bash League but I don’t know if they will ask me again. It was probably one of the best experiences in my cricket career so far. Women’s cricket in Australia receives more than double the financial support and media interest than here and there are so many sponsors and spectators. In Australia, the support for women’s cricket is probably not as strong as the men’s side but it’s definitely better than most other countries, which translates to the national set-up. From what I’ve seen since I’ve been playing cricket this definitely looks like the best women’s team Australia have ever had. In this side there’s no one they have to hide and everyone did well when they had the chance. When there was an injury and someone came in, they proved they were up to the task and performed really well. There is so much depth in Australia’s national and state teams, so I think a lot of countries can learn a lot of things from them.

Speaking of sporting depth I see Ashleigh Barty, who turned out in the Big Bash League in its infancy, recently retired from tennis with immediate effect. We have both played for the Brisbane Heat in the Women’s Big Bash League but she was way before my time and played in its first season in 2015.

I actually have no idea what level of cricketer she was as I have never seen her play but I’m guessing she was pretty good, having played in both state cricket and the Big Bash from a young age. If you can become that good at tennis and play pretty decent cricket and golf as well then you have to be really talented. She is definitely something of a sporting allrounder, having won the ladies competition at the Brookwater Golf and Country Club this past weekend. I couldn’t believe that she retired at the age of 25 and actually thought she would go back to cricket but we’ll have to wait and see. In terms of professional sport, she said she has had enough, is physically tired and can’t give anymore. But having won her latest golf tournament it might not be the last we see of her on a sporting front. I’m sure if she had chosen cricket as a career she would have done really well in it too. That said, Barty went out when she was still on top, which is a lesson for other players to take.

MY TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT

Rachael Haynes (Australia), Alyssa Healy (wk – Australia), Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa) Meg Lanning - captain (Australia), Natalie Sciver (England), Beth Mooney (Australia) Hayley Matthews (West Indies), Marizanne Kapp (South Africa), Sophie Ecclestone (England), Charlie Dean (England), Shabnim Ismail (South Africa)

12th player: Salma Khatun (Bangaldesh)

It’s a strong team and all of them performed well during the World Cup in New Zealand. I’ve gone for the Australian opening pair of Haynes and Healy. Obviously Wolvie has been great opening for the Proteas but I think Haynes should be there with Healy. I also like the left and right hand combination.

When it comes to the middle order, Sciver and Mooney are a bit more aggressive types of players. I like them at 5 and 6. Matthews is a devastating allrounder and slots in one place ahead of Kappie. The latter batted and bowled so well this campaign and is really effective at the end of an innings.

Looking at the bowlers, Ecclestone was the leading wicket-taker at the tournament with 21 wickets to her name and was pretty much No 1 in all the bowling stats. Meanwhile, her teammate Dean, who’s only 21 and hasn’t played a lot for England, performed well. South Africa’s Ismail was the second highest wicket-taker with 14 scalps and is a world-class bowler to complete the line-up.

Saturday, 2 April – World Cup heartbreak and Aussie admiration

After our crushing semifinal defeat against England in Christchurch, hearts are broken and my teammates are naturally very disappointed. While it was our dream to reach the final for the first time, one bad game shouldn’t define us as a team. The Proteas played really good cricket over the course of the tournament and can be proud of themselves for that and what they achieved as a unit.

In terms of processing a loss on a personal front, it depends on how the defeat happened. If it was a really good game and there were positives to take out of it from an individual or team viewpoint, I wouldn’t dwell on the defeat for too long. But if it was a terrible team performance and things went really badly, there are obviously more things to look into and try to improve on.

That said, as the Proteas head back to South Africa on a long-haul flight from the Antipodes, now is an important time for the team to stick together. We need to support each other and celebrate the positives we can take from this World Cup campaign. I think now presents the perfect opportunity to take some time away from cricket and not over-think it and look too much into the one poor performance we had.

After the match captain Suné Luus said, “There are a couple of players who might be playing their last World Cup, and for us as younger players, it breaks our hearts that we couldn’t give them the final.” Most of the senior players have been playing for the Proteas for between 12 and 15 years. Reaching the final and winning the World Cup has been a dream of theirs for so long and this World Cup was that chance. It’s sad that they couldn’t reach the final but it’s unfortunately how the game works. All of the senior players will still have incredible careers to look back on when they do retire.

Post-World Cup, I think most of them will carry on for a while. It’s going to be really difficult to replace the senior players or the ones close to retirement but I’m sure the personnel that come in will be up to the task. Over the last two to three years, Cricket South Africa has been working hard to build a pipeline.

They are getting younger players ready for international cricket and have started professionalising provincial cricket with some contracts. Having done well at this World Cup and reached the semifinal stage for the third time, hopefully, it will be an eye-opener to pump even more resources into women’s cricket, develop it further and make the game even more professional.

SETTING MY SIGHTS ON NEXT WORLD CUP

By the time the next 50-over World Cup comes around, I’ll be 32. It’s always been a dream and goal of mine to be part of a World Cup. Hopefully, by then I have broken into the starting XI and that is definitely the long-term goal for me now. Having watched this World Cup from South Africa, it was weird seeing it on TV and not being part of the set-up. Not knowing what was going on in the team and how everyone was feeling was tough. You can ask over text or call but it’s not the same when you’re not part of that team environment.

You wonder what the discussions are about and what the planning is like. I missed that coupled with the excitement of being at a tournament and playing against different countries every match. In a sense, I felt close to them because they are my teammates but I also felt a bit far away. I sent Wolvie and Suné encouraging texts after the semifinal but I didn’t want to bring up those feelings again and will give them some time before I talk to them.

Once the dust settles on the World Cup disappointment, we will regroup as a team and set new targets. It’s another busy time coming up with the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham from July – the first time cricket is part of the event – and the T20 World Cup in South Africa in February next year which will be really exciting being on home soil. Some of the older players might wait for those tournaments before they call it quits. I think the Commonwealth Games in particular is on the bucket list for most of them because it’s the first time that we can participate in something like that.

In terms of Sunday’s final, Australia look unbeatable and I think it’s going to be really tough for England. The latter may be the defending champions but are definitely the underdogs going into the final. There are so many factors that make Australia such a good team and put them ahead of the chasing pack. This side definitely looks like the best they’ve had and all their players are world-class.

Wednesday, 30 March – Play-off pressure and cricket dates at grandma

With a few rest days after South Africa’s thrilling final pool match against India, I’ve caught up on some sleep. But before then it was a busy time for me as I helped my mom move from East London to Jeffrey’s Bay. With no TV or Wi-Fi connection installed, at 2:45 AM I drove to grandma’s house. We watched together on Sunday as Mignon du Preez struck the winnings runs in an epic run-chase.

The Proteas have made a habit of close finishes during this World Cup. Though it hasn’t been good for my heart rate, it may have been preparing us for the knock-out stages. South Africa have secured a semifinal date against England in a repeat of the 2017 World Cup semifinal. Having lost to us in the pool stage, England will definitely be looking for revenge. The semifinal five years ago will be in the back of the minds’ of both teams but hopefully it doesn’t hold us back. If you think about that too much it can influence your game and how you play. England will look to their semifinal success against South Africa back in 2017 as a confidence booster but, for us, a lot has changed since then.

I watched that fateful semifinal with a few friends and I was just heartbroken for the girls. To come so close and then to lose by such a small margin must have been terrible. The feeling that the team had then initiated our five-year plan for the next World Cup. The focus was on closing out close matches and getting over the line. Hopefully, the pain and disappointment we felt in 2017 is going to help us in this tournament. The whole team unit works to reach the final and playing in and winning it would be the ultimate thing to achieve. Reaching a World Cup final is something neither our men’s nor women’s team have ever achieved and it would be massive for this team and women’s cricket.

England struggled at the beginning of the tournament and endured a tough start. I was surprised by the run of losses they suffered early on and, as such, most people almost pushed them out of the tournament and disregarded them as a threat in the play-offs. However, they pulled it together in the last few games and did well. The English may not be in the best form but still managed to finish third, so we shouldn’t underestimate or take them lightly. They are definitely a dangerous opponent.

‘WOLVIE’ ON THE PROWL FOR PROTEAS

Laura Wolvaardt is the leading run-scorer in the tournament so far with 433 runs to her name at an average of 61.85. The top-ranked ODI batter has been amazing and is making a habit of scoring fifties. When she goes out to bat it has become normal for her to hit a half-century. Now I just really want her to reach that hundred. During the game against India, I sent her a text message which read, “It looks like today’s going to be the day for the hundred.” She came so close again – going out for 80 –but she’s in unbelievable form and has really been playing well. She is so disciplined and works hard and I’m really happy for her. She’s still so young -22 - and already a world-class international player.

I don’t know about ‘Wolvie’ moving to No 3, as suggested by some pundits, because she has cemented her opening spot and I don’t think anyone can take that away from her. As soon as Dané van Niekerk comes back from injury, she’ll return to the No 3 spot but Lara Goodall has played well.

Like ‘Wolvie’, at primary school, I had to play in the boys’ team and I got remarks from opponents. She said she always thought that she was “a kind of weirdo” for playing cricket as a young girl. I definitely think the stigma of cricket being a male-dominated sport is breaking down but it should have been broken down a long time ago. Physiology dictates that men are stronger and faster but the women have become professional and are really good athletes. I don’t understand why women’s cricket isn’t supported more and why some still regard cricket as male-centric or a male-only sport.

I think the ongoing World Cup in New Zealand has been a great advertisement for women’s cricket. It’s nice to hear that Proteas men’s test captain Dean Elgar has been sending messages to the team and good to see that Springbok captain Siya Kolisi was pictured in Laura’s No 14 jersey but I feel it shouldn’t be such a big thing. It should be something that is normalised. But the fact that there was such hype about it on social media shows the difference that there is between the men and women.

Wednesday, 23 March – Milestone for Minx and channeling our zen

There was so much excitement and hype ahead of the top-of-the-table contest between Australia and South Africa. Before the game I was thinking that the Aussies looked really tough to beat and there was pressure from various areas on my teammates. We hadn’t played Australia in five years and had never beaten them before but I felt we handled the pressure well and put up a good fight.

Having lost our first match of this World Cup against the favourites, Australia, our aim will be to finish second and avoid them in the semifinals because we obviously rather want them in the final.

It’s crucial we get at least one win from our last two games because if we end on eight points, along with one or two other teams, we might be in a bit of trouble and not finish second. Our net run rate is a bit low and it’s therefore going to be crucial for us to secure second spot ahead of the play-offs.

Captain Suné Luus spoke about pressure and said that she’s not sure the public realise how much it’s magnified at a World Cup. On a personal front, when I take to the field I try not to over-think things.

At the beginning of my international career, I felt a lot of pressure and it kind of halted my performances in a way. There were times when I felt I couldn’t perform and play to the best of my abilities because of all the pressure that people on the outside put on you coupled with the pressure you place on yourself. In terms of coping mechanisms, I learned not to over-think and instead practiced being in the moment. The key is to not look too far ahead… I was pleased for Lizelle Lee, who scored a quick-fire 36 from 44 against Australia.

Lizelle has been going through a bit of a difficult patch but she is a world-class batter. I expect her to regain form in the next two games because you can’t keep top players down for too long. When I’m going through a bad patch and feeling a bit off and uncomfortable, I pull up video clips of previous matches in which I played well. I study the types of shots I was playing and then go back mentally to think how I was feeling in those games and what my thought processes were at the time. It usually helps me regain my confidence.

EMBRACING YOUR OWN PLAYING STYLE

As an allrounder, I have been watching the tournament’s leading players closely and look up to the likes of Ellyse Perry and Hayley Matthews, who are the top-ranked ODI allrounders. However, I wouldn’t say I would change my game or techniques to fit theirs and will rather apply myself the way they do. I like to have my own style and, batting and bowling-wise, I think it’s a bit different to most players. When I was still at the national academy so many coaches tried to change my bowing style because it’s unorthodox and looks a little bit funny. Any time someone saw me bowl they either wanted to change or fix something but I came to realise that I just had to do what feels right to me.

Someone who is very comfortable in her own skin is Mignon du Preez. Minx became the first South African women’s cricketer to play 150 ODIs when we faced New Zealand. If I can play until I’m 40 maybe I can also reach that milestone! Lately she has been the mother of the team and is both a mentor and an inspiration to everyone around her. She sets a really good example in terms of the way she trains and plays the game.

Her personality is uplifting and she is a great asset to any team on and off the field. She is a very valuable player for the Proteas, having been part of the set-up for 15 years, and we will miss her a lot if she doesn’t go on to play 250 games. While I’m degreed in sport science and a trained biokineticist, I want to play for as long as I can and the body allows.

The West Indies, who are our next opponents, play a very aggressive brand of cricket. They like to take the game to you and attack your bowlers early on. Taking early wickets is crucial and getting Deandra Dottin and Matthews out before they get a good start is important. I think what will count in our favour is that we played against them as recently as last month and won the series.

We will have that confidence going into the game but it’s their last group stage match so they are definitely going to come hard at us in Wellington on Thursday. I will be holding thumbs for my teammates as they look to bounce back. Speaking of which, mine is much less painful but it’s still sensitive and stiff.

Tuesday, 15 March – Building momentum and skipping ice baths

With another close finish – this time a three-wicket victory over England – it seems as if the Momentum Proteas like living on the edge. It hasn’t been good for my blood pressure or heart rate but it has kept the fans entertained and engaged which can only be a positive for women’s cricket.

In a sense, I think it was revenge for the defeat against England at the 2017 ICC World Cup. When a team gets over the line in a close game it says a lot about their temperament. In terms of closing out tight games, we have improved on that a lot. In the past, when chasing a total the wheels would often fall off at the back end of an innings.

We have had a sports psychologist every now and then in our camp so that could be a point of difference. I think it also comes down to preparation and the mentality of the players which has been better in those pressure situations. Just staying calm, keeping cool and sticking to our game plans has seen us shed the narrative of fading under pressure.

Marizanne Kapp, who was the player of the match against England, took figures of 5/45. I was actually surprised when I saw that those were her best bowling figures so far and it was her maiden ODI five-for. Kappie is a phenomenal player and I’m glad she’s in our team. She has always been good but over the last three years, she has improved even more and peaked.

The fact that she has contributed match-winning performances for us in so many games underlines her as one of the best in the world. I don’t think she needs to have the title of captain or vice-captain to lead by example. Whether it’s Dané or Suné skippering the side, Kappie helps in terms of planning, offers advice and inputs skill stuff for execution on a bowling front. As her teammates, we respect and look up to her.

Kappie definitely wears her heart on her sleeve and doesn’t make you doubt how she feels about something, whereas another star performer in the form of Laura Wolvaardt is more reserved. The latter is one of my favourite players in world cricket and I think she is going to be a legend of the women’s game. Last year she became the youngest South African to 2 000 runs.

The 22-year-old is disciplined, hardworking and a really good example of how you should go about things as a pro athlete. Away from the field, we have become quite close over the last few years. Laura and I have similar personalities in that we are both quiet and can at times be socially awkward. Usually, we will talk about being awkward together and not knowing how to be in social situations with new people.

FOCUS ON RECOVERY

From new people to the next opponents, we face hosts New Zealand on Thursday. They are with us in the top four so those games are ones you want to win. In terms of recovery, I would expect Tuesday to be an off day for the team comprising a light jog, cycling session or ice bath. It’s crucial in competitions like this where you play so many games at such a high and competitive level to make sure that recovery is done well and the players are well-conditioned and shaped to continue playing without injuries.

When it comes to ice baths, some of my teammates believe in its benefits and like to do it but I find it horrible and try to avoid it as much as possible. Fortunately, in our team at the moment, it’s not forced upon you but is available if you want it.

Ice baths may be optional but the work done with our strength and conditioning coach Zane Webster isn’t. He makes it quite intense and doesn’t feel too sorry for us. He is strict in what he expects from us but what I really like is that he outlines why we are doing certain exercises. Zane takes really good care of us and we don’t always appreciate him as much as we should. Being an S&C coach is often an under-appreciated job.

On Wednesday – the day before the game against New Zealand – there will possibly be an optional top-up session for whoever wants to go bowl, hits some balls or do some fielding. I think our fielding consultant Kruger van Wyk will focus on stump-hitting drills. In training, we pull off a number of direct hits but in match situations, with the pressure raised, obviously it’s a bit different. But run outs can turn a game around quickly so I’m sure the Proteas will be working on it behind the scenes.

Thursday, 10 March – Opening wins and farewelling the king of spin

I have enjoyed the start of the World Cup. Australia and the West Indies are setting the early pace with two wins on the spin, while we opened our campaign with a 32-run victory against Bangladesh.

Ayabonga Khaka, who was the player of the match with figures of 4/32 in 10 overs, has been brilliant lately. Aya is the dark horse in our bowling line-up and has kind of been living in the shadows of Shabnim Ismail and Marizanne Kapp. I think Aya is one of the most underrated bowlers in world cricket.

We have come a long way together and both played Border under-19 cricket with us hailing from East London. In terms of personality, Aya is one of the quieter ones in the squad and keeps her head down and works hard in terms of carrying out her game plans. Post-match, I see she didn’t place too much emphasis on reaching the 100-wicket milestone and remains humble and focused. It’s nice when you achieve milestones but they also aren’t something that I consistently think about.

The diversity within our team definitely makes us stronger as a unit. The fact that my teammates are from different cultural backgrounds, races and speak various languages brings something special to our team. It defines what we stand for and play for. In terms of the social aspect of the side, we don’t actually have fine meetings on a regular basis anymore but after the last game of a series we will have a team event and some fines will be thrown in.

Owing to bio-secure bubble life, I would say we have gelled even more as a team and have group dinners and host quizzes, with milestones always celebrated. When I was still with the team ahead of the World Cup, we threw a baby shower for Lizelle Lee who has welcomed a baby boy. In future her son, Wihan, will probably be travelling with us. I saw the Pakistani captain has brought her baby daughter to the World Cup which I think is a very big moment for women in sport. In the past, it’s been difficult to connect raising children with your cricket career. Maternity leave, without having to drop out of the system, is an important step.

While new arrivals are always exciting, the recent passing of Shane Warne has cast a dark cloud over world cricket. When I first saw it on social media I thought it was fake news. He was one of the best in the game and it’s a big loss for cricket. He confused batters and no one knew what to do against him. The legacy he leaves behind is the way he changed the game and how people have seen spin bowling evolve. When people teach and learn spin bowling they refer to Warne, who was the king.

WALKS THE WALK

Warne was also a master of sledging, which I don’t think is as bad in the women’s game as it is in the men’s. But we definitely experience it with some teams and players more than others. Provincially, the sledging revolves around personalised stuff but is said more in a joking sense. It’s not too serious or offensive, whereas internationally opponents will take you on about your technique, game plan, what’s happening in the team and what the other players are doing or saying. The type of sledging I have experienced at international level is crueller than what I have dealt with on a provincial front.

Shabnim is one of the fiercest competitors within our team and she walks the walk rather than talks the talk. Her nickname is ‘The Demon’ which is a fitting description as she is quite aggressive on the field. That moniker sums up her attitude and intent on the field. She is definitely still the quickest bowler in the team, though Masabata Klaas is snapping at her heels, and looks quite scary when she bowls. She is a great competitor and I definitely wouldn’t want to be on her wrong side. She doesn’t give you anything and when she’s beaten you all ends up, she will make sure that you know about it.

Looking ahead to our clash against Pakistan on Friday at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, when you are playing teams who aren’t in the top four or five in the world rankings, you want to get big wins, bonus points and get your net run rate up.

The Proteas batters will be focusing on building partnerships in the top five and showing even more intent than in the first game. And from a bowling front, the team will do well to follow Aya’s example. She stuck to her plans and bowled wicket-to-wicket which works very well, particularly against subcontinental teams. They enjoy width and being able to free their arms, so it’s all about sticking to clear plans and applying ourselves well.

Thursday, 3 March – Fractured thumb and match one

My injury happened in the third ODI against the West Indies last month. I was fielding at extra cover when the ball came really hard and low to the ground. I tried to catch it but didn’t manage to and it hit me straight on the thumb. I thought it was just a bruise so stayed on the field for a while but then it starting swelling and I couldn’t move it much. The doctor didn’t think it was fractured or broken. She thought it was soft tissue damage but X-rays revealed a fracture that would end my World Cup.

I have been spending time with my family since undergoing an operation. On Tuesday, I saw the surgeon for a follow-up and thankfully he is happy with the progress. The cast has been removed and I’m now wearing a small splint, which makes it a little more comfortable as I can move it around.

I was very disappointed to miss the World Cup because it’s something you work for your whole career. For me, it was a massive goal to be part of the squad so I was sad and disappointed. What makes it worse is that I was already with the team and had received my Proteas blazer and playing kit. My travelling bags were with me because the injury happened only four days before the flight took off to New Zealand. I had to give the kit to Andrie Steyn, who replaced me. It was a bitter pill to swallow but you have to move on. Injuries are part of sport and the sooner you accept it the better.

The Proteas have played two warm-up matches ahead of their opening game against Bangladesh on Saturday. Warm-up games are crucial because they allow you to get used to the conditions. Unfortunately it didn’t go as well as planned in the warm-up matches against India and England but the defeats may be a blessing in disguise. Usually teams that lose in warm-up games do quite well in World Cups.

I definitely think we have a really good shot of winning the tournament and stand a better chance now than at previous World Cups. This team has gelled together really well and we have been working tirelessly behind the scenes. It’s a massive blow to the side with Dané van Niekerk out through an ankle injury. She is an excellent captain and her cricket knowledge is second to none. From that aspect, we will miss her a lot but I definitely believe we will still be able to win it.

Suné Luus has taken over the captaincy and is more laid-back and not as emotional. Dané gets really into it, which is a good thing, but Suné doesn’t seem to get stressed and is pretty relaxed. They are different types of captains. As a player, I enjoy an arm-over-the-shoulder kind of captain. I like a captain who leads and gives you advice along the way but not someone who is too dominant or set in their ways. I wouldn’t like to play under a captain who enforces their ideas on you and simply makes you carry them out.

Thankfully that is not the case for us and the Proteas environment is one in which learning is key. We are a cohesive team so no individual is regarded as more important than the other. There are so many individuals in the Proteas set-up who are world-class and the fact that so many of them are playing in leagues around the world helps because they bring that experience.

QUITE GULLIBLE

There are some big personalities in this team and even bigger pranksters in the form of Shabnim Ismail and Chloe Tryon. Those two in particular create a good vibe and like to make jokes and play pranks, which I’m often on the receiving end of. I think it happens to me a lot because firstly, I’m quite gullible and fall for pranks easily and secondly, don’t get upset about it like other people might.

It’s a good way to ease the tension in the days leading up to a big game, with the Bengal Tigresses lying in wait first up. I was part of the Emerging Women’s squad that toured Bangladesh in 2021. They possess slow spinners who turn the ball quite a lot but on New Zealand wickets I’m not sure how much turn they will get. That said, we have struggled with spin in the past but have worked on it a lot and have clear plans in place in terms of how we want to play it. It’s very important to win your first match as it builds momentum for the rest of the World Cup. Every side is going to be tough competition but you really want to start off well before you play the top four teams in world cricket.