Key events
Pre-match reading: a terrific interview with Tammy Beaumont from the latest issues of Wisden Cricket Monthly
Beaumont’s experiences of the amateur era have given her a broad perspective on the game. She is studying for a Master’s in leadership in sport, and it’s clear she thinks deeply about cricket and its wider impact. She wants women’s cricket to retain the “accessibility and warmth” that characterised its non-professional years but says an increasingly toxic environment makes that challenging.
We’ve got to keep sharing our characters and stories but, at the same time, we have to protect ourselves. Media scrutiny is part and parcel of professionalism. What I struggle with at times, and it’s not dealt with properly, is abuse online. That’s gone through the roof in the last couple of years. We’re still trying to build brands and grow the game and interact with fans online but, for me, I’m like, absolutely not. I want none of it. It’s gone from social media being a tool for the good of the game to now where it’s just constant abuse. Some of the stuff that my teammates got in The Hundred, as well as myself, was utterly disgusting. Racist, horrendous, sexist stuff. Horrific. And nothing is really done about it.
Raf Nicholson’s preview
The job of selecting an XI will be made easier by the expectation that the captain, Nat Sciver-Brunt, will bowl her full allocation of 10 overs, allowing England the luxury of selecting seven batters against South Africa. “She’s been one of the most successful bowlers in the WPL in the past few years so we’re hoping to continue that form in 50-over cricket,” Edwards said.
England’s top order is stacked with experience, with Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont set to open the batting and Heather Knight at No 3. Knight injured her hamstring against West Indies in May and faced a race against time to be match-ready for this tournament, opting for time in a hyperbaric chamber over surgery.
Team news
England have resolved the Alice Capsey/Emma Lamb dilemma by picking them both in a powerful batting line-up. Lauren Bell is the only specialist seamer, supported by Nat Sciver-Brunt, and Heather Knight returns from injury to play her 100th ODI.
There are no surprises in a strong South African team; it includes nine of the XI who played in last year’s T20 world Cup final defeat to New Zealand.
England Beaumont, Jones (wk), Knight, Sciver-Brunt (c), Dunkley, Lamb, Capsey, Dean, Ecclestone, Smith, Bell.
South Africa Wolvaardt (c), Brits, Luis, Kapp, Bosch, Jafta (wk), Tryon, De Klerk, Klaas, Khaka, Mlaba.
England win the toss and bowl
South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt calls incorrectly and Nat Sciver-Brunt chooses to field first. That’s a useful toss to win with the potential for batting to become easier under the lights.
“Don’t mind having a bat too much,” says Wolvaardt.
Preamble
Ssshhhhhhhhh! The talking is over, at least for now, and England’s World Cup is about to begin. The bad news is they start with a tough game against South Africa in Guwahati. The good news is they start with a tough game against South Africa in Guwahati. Victory today would give England instant momentum and underscore the cautious confidence of their pre-tournament chatter.
An excellent win over Australia in their last warm-up has increased that confidence, even if the individual performances of Alice Capsey (88 not out) and Sarah Glenn (5 for 32) gave Charlotte Edwards a slight selection headache.
Edwards is a serial winner, so there’s no danger of England setting their sights low. But from a distance they are in the slightly unusual position of having a very clear par for the tournament.
Failure to reach the semi-finals would be a minor shocker, even allowing for the improvement among the traditional also-rans. Reaching the final ahead of either Australia or India, the two clear favourites to win the competition, would be a serious achievement. And if England win it… no, let’s not go there. It’s way too early for that sort of talk.
Today’s match begins at 10.30am BST.
