EXCLUSIVE I Hitting the ground running will be key, says Proteas all-rounder Van Niekerk

Proteas Women all-rounder Dane van Niekerk says the upcoming series against Ireland Women will provide the ideal platform for her side to begin preparations for next year’s T20 World Cup, which will be hosted in England.

South Africa will host Ireland in a tour comprising three T20 Internationals and three One-Day Internationals, beginning this Friday with the opening T20I at Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town.

This will be the Proteas’ first appearance since their heartbreaking 52-run defeat to India in the 50-over World Cup final — marking their second successive loss in a global showpiece after falling to New Zealand by 32 runs, just a year on from their 19-run T20 final defeat to Australia on home soil.

South Africa has named a strong squad to face an Irish side that continues to develop, and the tour could also present former captain Van Niekerk with the chance to return to the field for the first time since reversing her international retirement — a decision that followed her omission from the team over fitness concerns in 2023.

The 32-year-old right-hander is thrilled to be back in the national set-up and believes she has rediscovered her hunger for the game. She hopes to make the most of her return while emphasising that the opening T20Is will be key in setting the tone for the rest of the series and next year's World Cup.

“The next cycle is very important. I have previously mentioned that every game is a game for us to get closer to those combinations and building momentum again in this format,” Van Niekerk told Independent Media.

“The team has made two T20 World Cup finals in the last two years, and that is something to be proud of, but we really need to make sure that we get our plans going because every single T20 match is just as important as the next one.”

Van Niekerk added that making a strong start will be crucial, an area that has troubled the team on previous tours.

This series will also be significant for coach Mandla Mashimbyi and his side. With a squad brimming with experience, there is room to expose emerging players to valuable international cricket. However, Van Niekerk warned against underestimating an Irish side that has shown steady improvement.

“The main thing is that we need to hit the ground running. In the past we have been pretty much slow starters, and even though people keep on saying that it’s only Ireland that we are playing, they have evolved as a side.

“The main thing will be for us to ensure that we are on the ball from the get-go and ensure that we execute our plans well and start off on a positive note.

“I think they have evolved, as have other teams across the world, and I expect tough competition, and hopefully it will be a really good competitive series that can give the crowd a good show,” she concluded.