The English Team versus The South African Squad – Women’s World Cup Starts
Quiet now! The talking is over, for now at least, while England's global campaign is ready to commence. The bad news is, they begin against a formidable opponent with South Africa as their first rival. The good news is, they start with a tough game against South Africa. A win in this match could provide immediate impetus for England and justify the cautious confidence of their pre-tournament chatter.
Pre-Tournament Momentum
An impressive triumph over Australia in their previous practice game has boosted that self-assurance, even if the personal contributions of Alice Capsey (88 not out) alongside Sarah Glenn (claiming 5/32) presented Charlotte Edwards with a minor dilemma.
Edwards is known for her success, so there’s no danger that England will aim low. But from a distance they occupy a rare spot where their tournament benchmark is quite obvious.
Competition Outlook
Failure to reach the semi-finals would be a minor shocker, even considering the improvement among the traditional also-rans. Advancing to the ultimate game before Australia or India, the two clear favourites to claim the title, would mark a significant accomplishment. Should England emerge victorious… no, let’s not go there. It’s far too soon for such discussions.
This fixture commences at 10.30am BST.
