Proteas Women's coach Mandla Mashimbyi, seen here with veteran all-rounder Marizanne Kapp, is making no excuses ahead of next month's T20 World Cup in the UK. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Proteas Women’s coach Mandla Mashimbyi is looking for his team to make a “big statement” at next month’s T20 World Cup, starting with the opening match against multiple champions Australia.
Mashimbyi and the squad have spent the last little while in the bush, bonding together a side blessed with plenty of experience and also youthful starlets. The team were set to depart for the UK on Monday with a lengthy period to acclimatise to conditions ahead of their opening game against the Aussies in Manchester on June 13.
Their preparations will be further aided by a couple of warm-up matches, including one against the self-same Southern Stars, where Mashimbyi is looking to test a few different game plans.
“I think we're really on the right track. The camp against Australia and the warm-up games will be an opportunity for us to try different combinations,” he said.
“For them, as players, to try different options from a bowling and batting point of view.
“It's all about how quickly you go back into the green zone. I think the girls have taken that in very, very well. Hopefully, from that point of view, a lot of things will be taken care of. But in terms of ability, I've never seen a problem with our ability.
“It's just maybe one or two things that you need to align to make sure that they get the right confidence. So in terms of that, I think we're really on the right track.”
Apart from Australia, the Proteas are also set to face ODI World Cup champions India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Netherlands in Group 1.
Instead of being daunted by the group, which has been dubbed the ‘Group of Death’, Mashimbyi feels his team are ready for the task of facing some of the finest teams in women’s cricket.
“I think it comes down to belief. And I think once the belief is there, execution will be top-tier as well. And I just feel like the players have just been assessing the vibes,” he said.
“It's been really, really good. They can't wait to get on that plane and start really getting their World Cup caps on. It's going to be fun. One thing that remains the main thing is the fact that if you want to be the best, you've got to be able to beat the best.
“And we don't look at it as a challenge. We look at it as an opportunity for us to really make a big statement in all of those games, not only the three. I think the five games that we'll be playing, it's about us making a statement.”