• Proteas Women an inspiration – for those who can watch them

    Published on

    The Proteas Women are a world-class team and they’re ours. It is a shame millions of South Africans have been robbed of the opportunity to see their triumph of talent, temperament and tactics, writes RYAN VREDE.

    My heart swelled watching the Proteas chase 229 for victory against New Zealand in Hamilton.

    If you’ve followed the recent history of this fixture, the result should not have surprised you. Coming into Thursday’s World Cup league fixture, South Africa had won four of the last five matches against the White Ferns. They are a better side at present and that superiority has been reflected in results. 

    It was, however, the nature of the performance that most inspired me. As the innings reached into its depths, there were times that the Proteas appeared to be completely out of the contest. They had managed the early chase so clinically, but it felt like that platform would mean nothing as wicket after wicket fell. 

    But there is an irrepressible spirit that has come to define this team. Don’t get it twisted – that spirit was brought into this tournament, not cultivated there. The bulk of this squad has been together for nearly three years and they’ve built this defining quality in that period. 

    The expression of that quality is what the world saw as they regrouped and relied on a lower-order response to oust a gifted New Zealand team. 

    Marizanne Kapp’s unbeaten 34* was a study of temperament under pressure. Opener Laura Wolvaardt is poetry in motion at the crease and her 67 was invaluable in the chase. Skipper Suné Luus embodies all the qualities of the greatest leaders. This was the spine of the chase. 

    HIGHLIGHTS: New Zealand vs Proteas

    Yet it would be remiss not to note what the bowling attack achieved in dismissing New Zealand for 228. This is a formidable batting line-up. A fortnight ago they chased 322 to win against Australia, losing just one wicket in the process and winning with 41 balls to spare. They’ve won seven of their last 12 ODIs and scored over 250 in seven of those matches. 

    To restrict them to 228 in a World Cup league game, at home, speaks to the talent and tactical excellence of bowlers and coaching staff.

    Indeed, these qualities have been exhibited throughout the tournament. It is a travesty that only SuperSport subscribers have been able to see it. 

    There has been a national outcry about the SABC not carrying international rugby and cricket with any consistency. They’ve responded by arguing that sub-licensing fees are prohibitively expensive. SuperSport needs to take a hard look at itself in this regard, but that alone can’t mitigate the SABC. 

    Decades of corruption, financial mismanagement and poor governance have gutted the SABC. It would require a rebuild of the most epic proportions to put them in a position to carry international cricket again. This means you’d have to be able to afford R1,000 a month for a premium subscription to witness the country’s elite cricketers. That immediately eliminates the majority of the country’s population. 

    Why does this matter? Well, in a professional context, most people can only be what they can see. Very few can visualise and pursue a career they have no reference point for. This is important for men’s cricket. It is desperately critical for women’s. 

    As the match unfolded, I wondered how many girls who are from similar backgrounds to Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Chloe Tryon and Masabata Klaas were watching them. I wondered how many would be inspired by Wolvaardt’s brilliance, Luus’ exemplary leadership and Kaap’s heroics. Not nearly enough is a reasonable assumption. 

    The argument that this team rose to this level without the reference points I cite as being so important is a juvenile one. Leaving this largely to chance is not a development strategy. The more exposed talented, young female cricketers, or aspiring female cricketers are to the elite in their game, the quicker the player pool grows. The deeper the pool, the more the national team benefits.

    Growing the women’s game demands an appetite for doing everything necessary to do so. A significant part of that is ensuring that watching women’s cricket is accessible to as many as possible. This is not a nice-to-have. It is the government’s mandate to do so. 

    That appetite is not there. So for now, and barring a miracle, the majority of the country will have to be content with second-hand reports of the type of performances the Proteas Women have delivered at the World Cup.

    It is heartbreaking that only those who don’t have to decide between feeding a family and watching sport get to enjoy this magical ride marked by heroic characters.

    Post by

    Ryan Vrede