The English Team v The South African Squad – Women’s Global Tournament Begins
Quiet now! The talking is over, for now at least, while England’s World Cup is about to begin. On the downside, they start with a tough game versus the South African side. Fortunately, they open with a stern test against South Africa. Victory today would give England instant momentum and justify the careful optimism in their build-up discussions.
Pre-Tournament Momentum
An impressive triumph over Australia during their final preparatory match has increased that confidence, although the standout displays from Alice Capsey (remaining unbeaten on 88) alongside Sarah Glenn (claiming 5/32) gave Charlotte Edwards a slight selection headache.
Edwards has a winning mentality, meaning there is little chance that England will aim low. Yet, externally they occupy a rare spot where their tournament benchmark is quite obvious.
Tournament Expectations
Failure to reach the semi-finals could be a slight surprise, even considering the advances from historically weaker sides. Reaching the final ahead of either Australia or India, the two clear favourites to win the competition, would represent a major feat. If the English side triumphs… it's best not to entertain that thought. It’s way too early for that sort of talk.
This fixture commences at 10.30am BST.
