South Africa's star batter Laura Wolvaardt
- The Proteas women's cricket team has arrived in Australia for a multi-format tour against the world champions.
- Laura Wolvaardt leads the Proteas across all formats with three T20Is, three ODIs and one Test.
- Wolvaardt admits it would be special to get some wins in Australia.
- Learn more about news 24 sports' home page.
Captain Laura Wolvaardt is hoping the Proteas women can do something special in Australia when they take on a formidable host on a historic multi-format tour.
Hilton Moreren's charge was played in three T20Is, three ODIs and a solo Test in Australia from Saturday to February 18.
The historic first Test between the two teams will be held at WACA in Perth from February 15th to 18th.
The Proteas last played a Test in 2022 when they drew with England at Taunton.
It will also be the first meeting between the two teams since Australia's historic ICC Women's T20 World Cup final victory in Cape Town in February last year.
“Look, they're the best team in the world. I think they cover all the bases in a sense when it comes to all formats of the game,” Wolvaardt said.
“We're going to have to play some really good cricket over there. At the end of the day, we want to challenge ourselves and measure ourselves against the best players in the world. [we] I'm very excited about this opportunity and finding out where we are. ”
Proteas women multi-format tour to Australia dates (all SA times):
T20I series
Saturday 27 January 01:45 – 1st T20I – Australia vs South Africa (Manuka Oval, Canberra)
Sunday 28 January 01:45 – 2nd T20I – Australia vs South Africa (Canberra, Manuka Oval)
Tuesday 30th January, 10:05 – 3rd T20I – Australia vs South Africa (Bellerive Oval, Hobart)
ODI series
Saturday 3 February, 05:10 – 1st ODI – Australia vs South Africa (Adelaide Oval, Adelaide)
Wednesday 7th February, 05:40 – 2nd ODI – Australia vs South Africa (Sydney, North Sydney Oval)
Saturday 10th February, 05:40 – 3rd ODI – Australia vs South Africa (North Sydney Oval, Sydney)
test match
15th to 18th February 04:30 – Australia vs South Africa (WACA Ground, Perth)
The Proteas Women have had a subpar performance against Australia, especially in the shortest format of the match. Australia, who have won six T20 World Cups, have won all seven meetings against the Proteas Women in T20 cricket.
When it comes to ODI cricket, the Proteas women's team is also yet to beat Australia, losing 14 of their 15 ODI matches. SA's best result was a draw in the fourth ODI in November 2016.
Wahlwaard's side will be aiming to make history by aiming for their first win against Australia in any format.
“Well, I think if we can get a win, that would be pretty special. Or if we could get two wins, that would be great,” Wolvaardt said.
“We have the talent, we just need to play a good game of cricket and all the departments need to come together on the same day.
“We know we have it and we just need to get the timing right and hope we can give them a good game.”
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday selected all-rounder Nadine de Klerk in this year's ODI squad and batsman Wolvaardt in the 2023 T20 squad.
De Klerk's unbeaten knock of 48 off 24 balls was not enough as the Proteas suffered a four-wicket defeat to the Governors' XI in the T20 pre-game in Sydney on Wednesday.
It was their first official match since December last year, when they won the ODI series 2-1 and drew 1-1 with Bangladesh in the T20I series.
All-rounder Chloe Tryon, who missed the Bangladesh series with a groin injury, scored 31 runs in midfield at North Sydney Oval, hitting a half-century with Sune Luus.
Tryon understands the importance of the Australia tour and hopes the Proteas can keep their cool, play some good cricket and try to make history.
“We've got to raise the bar a little bit more and try to play at 200 per cent. We know they're going to come at us hard, especially with the T20 World Cup just around the corner. “It's going to be really good. Be prepared for us,” Tryon said.
“It's always difficult to win against a team like that. It's important to always stay calm and composed and take every moment as it comes. You don't want to think too far ahead in a game. I've seen what kind of teams they've played against.
“I think if I can just be kind and calm in everything I do, I can go all the way and stay in the moment as much as I can, and hopefully go all the way to the end and win.”
The first of three T20Is begins on Saturday at Canberra's Manuka Oval.
Play begins at 01:45 SA time.
Proteas women’s team for T20I and ODI series:
Laura Wolvaardt (Titans, Captain), Anneke Bosch (Titans), Tazmin Blitz (Garden Route Badgers), Nadine de Klerk (Western Province), Mieke de Ridder (Garden Route Badgers), Ayanda Hlubi (Dolphins), Sinalo Jafta (Lions), Marisanne Kapp (Western Province), Ayabonga Kaka (Lions), Masabata Klaas (Titans), Sune Roos (Titans), Eliz-Mari Markus (Titans), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Dolphins), Chloe Tryon (Lions), Delmi Tucker (Western Province)
