Snehasis Mukherjee in Guwahati
South Africa are gearing up for the upcoming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, as they kick off their campaign on October 3 against England. They recently registered a 2-1 ODI series win in Pakistan.
Now, ahead of the mega event, in an exclusive interview with RevSportz, their former assistant coach and former South Africa men’s team spinner, Paul Adams, shared his views on the squad and their preparations.
He also opened up on the heartbreak in the 2024 T20 World Cup final, spoke on Team India’s spinners, the importance of spin, and more.
Your views on the South Africa squad for the World Cup?
It is a very experienced squad. They have been playing a lot of cricket together in various formats, and probably no big surprises — just the inclusion of Karabo Meso coming from those Under-19 World Cup performances. They have also just been together recently, playing in the West Indies.
They had a really good series out there, performed well, and it also gave an opportunity for some of the younger players like Meso. And we also see the inclusion of Nondumiso Shangase.
She brings an all-rounder feel, another off-spinner within the group, and someone who can bat in the middle or top order. I think the African side is trying to cover some spin options, which is important because spin bowling plays a big role in women’s cricket. Especially with Nonkululeko Mlaba, who is the leader of the spin bowlers and controls that department.
She will play a pivotal role for the African side going into this World Cup. The support acts in terms of spin bowling will probably come from Sune Luus and Shangase. Sune has done well converting from leg-spin to off-spin over the last year and a half. She has really worked hard to bring that all-round ability into the team. And then there is Chloe Tryon too. So, the spin options look really good for the side.
Happy that they travelled to Pakistan for a series just before the World Cup?
Yes, they have been busy. They have had some good tours recently. Some of the cricketers also played in The Hundred in the UK.
So, they all came together and had a good camp before going to Pakistan. It was important for them to acclimatise, get used to the heat, and adjust to everything that comes with preparing for a World Cup.
Over the last few years, Africa have been really good at these tournaments. They’ve pulled off a lot of surprises and have always looked to put in big performances at World Cups.
Can you share the experience you had as the assistant coach during the 2024 T20 World Cup? A heartbreak in the final, but how was the mood in the dressing room?
It was very good. I got brought in as I am currently the spin-bowling and one of the high-performance coaches for Cricket South Africa. I work across various teams, and they brought me in to assist, bring experience, and add my expertise to the squad. I was very grateful for that opportunity.
It was exciting. The ladies were really energised and wanted to perform well. They were zoned in.
It was a great experience in terms of the energy and focus within the group. It was a pity we lost in the final, but reaching that stage was a great achievement. Beating Australia in the semi-final the way we did was massive.
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Thoughts on Laura Wolvaardt, the leader and batter?
She is calm and composed. At no stage do you see her flustered in a game. She keeps her composure and handles pressure.
I think everyone looks up to her as the ultimate professional in how she goes about the game. She has been a great leader for the South African women’s side.
Did you expect Dane van Niekerk in the World Cup squad after the retirement U-turn?
Dane has been playing some domestic cricket, and I think the coach probably invited her to start off, maybe to see his options within the group. Obviously, final decisions need to be made.
But yes, Dane is coming back. She has in the past been a big player for South Africa. Let’s see how she goes about the game and what sort of mental space she is in. Maybe this gives her some good time to get back into competitive cricket and push for that next T20 World Cup.
How do you look at India’s spin bowling options? Possibly the best spin unit in this World Cup?
It is a really exciting spinning quartet. Especially Deepti Sharma, who plays an all-round role. If you watch her play, she is very competitive and always onto you.
They play with an aggressive style. They also have a young spinner in Shree Charani coming into the squad.
Having those options is very important. Like I said, South Africa are also trying to cover spin options. Spinners play a big role in 50-over cricket, especially in those middle overs to control and manage the game. Spin, no matter the format, is always crucial.
It creates pressure on the opposition. It will be interesting to see how teams play it and how they find scoring options.
Any other spinners you are looking forward to in this World Cup?
Yes, I enjoy watching Amelia Kerr from New Zealand. Her control has been excellent. She was a big factor in the T20 World Cup, and her googlies are tough to face.
I always keep an eye on her. Her all-round ability makes her a big factor for New Zealand.
Top four predictions for the World Cup?
Obviously, South Africa, Australia, India, and England. For me, Charlotte Edwards’ England will be one of the teams to watch out for. They are always very well organised, have good understanding, and strong leadership. Always a tough team to play against. They’ve got to be in the mix here.
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