COLOMBO: After a couple of months away from the international stage, the Proteas Women travelled to Sri Lanka to compete in the One-Day International (ODI) Tri-Series against the host nation and India. Upon arrival, we were met with the intense heat and humidity of the subcontinent, making Durban’s weather feel like a breeze.
Following our first team meeting, Coach Mandla (Mashimbyi) and the support staff gave the team clear direction on what was expected throughout the tour, both on and off the field. This set the tone for the next three weeks, with the theme being “control the controllables.” With Mandla’s guidance, this theme applied not only to the sport we love so much but also to our attitude and the way we approach challenges and tasks at hand.
Under captain Laura Wolvaardt, we also reflected on the team’s values and how we could incorporate them into our daily lives throughout the tour, helping us grow both as individuals and as teammates.
In the blazing heat, the weather quickly became a popular talking point, especially given that we would be playing two subcontinental teams in their backyard, where conditions are known to be low, slow, and offer turn. Despite the host nation having the upper hand in understanding and adapting more quickly to the conditions, they too expressed discomfort with the humidity.
Gym and conditioning sessions were equally tough. Opting for outdoor workouts and team runs on the beach, strength and conditioning coach Zane Webster adopted this approach to help us players adapt to the conditions. With even some of the fittest players rating the heat-inspired run a seven out of ten, it was clear that the heat was on, and no matter the time of day, you were bound to work up a sweat.
When approaching a match, strategy was key. India is a team that has become very successful over the years, with world-class players like Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana. As we trained, the players honed their strengths and planned how they would counterattack using our own skillset.
Despite the results, the team collectively took several positives from each game. We celebrated key milestones, including Tazmin Brits’ century, Nadine de Klerk’s 50th ODI wicket and Annerie Dercksen’s consistency with both bat and ball. We also celebrated Chloé Tryon’s hat-trick and fifer, Nondumiso’s career-best performance with the bat, the debuts and first ODI wickets of Seshnie and Miané, as well as Coach Mandla’s first full tour with the team.
When it comes to the Proteas Women, celebrating each other’s successes and milestones is what unites us as a team. The night before the opening match, a new tradition was introduced. One that added real meaning to what it means to don the Proteas badge.
“Rooted in Values. United by Purpose.” This creed echoed through the hotel hallways as all players (having previously made their debuts), along with management, proudly read out the pledge reaffirming their commitment to our shared team values and our purpose as Proteas Women players.
Newbies Karabo Meso, Seshnie Naidu and Miané Smit, for whom the ceremony was introduced, had the honour of reading the pledge in front of their teammates ahead of their respective debut matches.
They also wrote their debut numbers on a lock, symbolically locking in their commitment to the team and the nation. The lock was then placed at the stadium where they made their debut, secured forever in the country where they took to the field for the first time as Proteas ODI players.
Battling humidity levels of up to 85% and temperatures in the mid-thirties, the team showed great resilience as they continued to fight, match after match. Some players described this tour as one of the hardest tours of their careers, physically.
Although these matches didn’t go our way, the team remains fixated on the main prize, to be awarded later this year. With the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 taking place in India, this Tri-Series formed an important part of the squad’s preparation ahead of the prestigious tournament.
After finishing as runners-up in the 2023 T20 World Cup on home soil, as well as in the T20 World Cup last year, we will once again look to achieve the extraordinary by adopting another key theme introduced by Coach Mandla: “Dominate.”
Proteas Women Squad – ODI Tri-Series
Laura Wolvaardt (Captain) (Fidelity Titans), Tazmin Brits (DP World Lions), Nadine de Klerk (World Sports Betting Western Province), Annerie Dercksen (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Lara Goodall (World Sports Betting Western Province), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions), Masabata Klaas (Fidelity Titans), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), Karabo Meso (DP World Lions), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Seshnie Naidu (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Nondumiso Shangase (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Miané Smit (Knights) and Chloé Tryon (DP World Lions)
Source: cricket.co.za
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