The English Team v South Africa – Women's Cricket Global Tournament Kicks Off
Ssshhhhhhhhh! The talking is over, at least for the moment, while England’s World Cup is ready to commence. On the downside, they begin against a formidable opponent versus the South African side. On the upside, they open with a stern test against South Africa. Victory today could provide immediate impetus for England and legitimise the careful optimism in their build-up discussions.
Pre-Competition Confidence
A superb victory versus the Aussies in their last warm-up has boosted that self-assurance, even if the personal contributions by Alice Capsey (scoring 88 not out) alongside Sarah Glenn (claiming 5/32) caused a small team-selection puzzle for Charlotte Edwards.
Edwards is a serial winner, meaning there is little chance that England will aim low. Yet, externally they find themselves in a somewhat uncommon situation with a well-defined expectation for the event.
Competition Outlook
Failure to reach the semi-finals would be a minor shocker, even considering the improvement among the traditional also-rans. Reaching the final before Australia or India, the two top contenders to win the competition, would represent a major feat. Should England emerge victorious… no, let’s not go there. It’s far too soon for those kinds of predictions.
Today’s match begins at half past ten in the morning BST.
