- 2 days ago
Women's World Cup 2025: South Africa's Nadine de Klerk remains confident in the side's chances against the tournament-hosts India and will be backing themselves to come up with plans to take down Smriti Mandhana in their highly anticipated encounter.
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00:00A rough start and then the team has bounced back really well, but coming into the series, you played a series against Pakistan in Pakistan.
00:09How much that helped in terms of getting acclimatized to the conditions, but also there's been a lot of travel as well.
00:17You played just two games. Just how important was that win against England before coming here?
00:23Yeah, I think we know coming to a World Cup, there's going to be a lot of ups and downs and I think obviously didn't get off to our ideal start against England.
00:34But yeah, I think this World Cup is all about fight and character at the end of the day and I think we've shown that in the last game.
00:39But yeah, to the question in Pakistan, I think really important. I think the conditions were quite similar and I think we've had a really good series over in Pakistan and kind of got used to the conditions.
00:50And yeah, like I said, obviously it's going to be really important. This World Cup looks like it's a bit on the slower side and taking quite a bit of turns.
00:57So yeah, I think it's going to be really important going forward in this tournament.
01:00And just in terms of last match, we saw Sinhala Jafsa coming ahead of you and Chloe.
01:07Is that the batting template the team is looking at? What is your role with the bat in this team, knowing what you're capable of doing in this format?
01:15Yeah, I think obviously my role has been pretty clear. It's kind of to come in in the back end and finish games off.
01:22I think this World Cup, it might look a bit different, to be honest. It looks like, like I said, I'm not the easiest of wickets to bat on.
01:27So I think, yeah, coming in a bit later, it's still about finishing games off, but it might not be the same role in terms of, you know, trying to strike at a high strike rate and putting teams under pressure.
01:40So I think it's more about the tail enders or the back end batters has been in quite early.
01:45So it's just about adapting to the conditions and building a partnership with whoever's in there and try and take aims deep.
01:51It's not necessarily been 300 plus scores. So I guess it's about just scrapping all the runs you can, try and get to a competitive total.
01:59And then, yeah, obviously back our bowlers to defend that.
02:03Hi, Nadine. Sorry, I have a bad trooper.
02:06So, your South Africa schedule has been sort of packed with travel, play, practice, travel, play, practice for the first three games and three very strong openings right up front.
02:21Is that good or is that bad to get those three heavyweights out of the way at the beginning of the tournament itself?
02:28Yeah, look, like we're going to play them at some stage in the tournament.
02:33So, yeah, it's been quite busy. We've had a lot of travel and stuff going up and down.
02:37But I think, you know, as a team, we're just trying to control the controllables really or focus on what we can control.
02:44And that's something that's out of our control, obviously.
02:47So I think we've really made the best of it.
02:49I think we've really enjoyed our tournament this fall.
02:52Obviously, we had a great game the other day against New Zealand.
02:55And I think there's just a good vibe around our side.
02:59So, yeah, I think we're not too much, like, focused on, you know, on the traveling and the opponents.
03:04But, yeah, like I said, we're going to have to play them at some stage.
03:07And I guess it just prepares us well.
03:09You have to be at your very best from the first.
03:11And we weren't against England and we got put under pressure.
03:14So I think, yeah, it was just an eye-opener.
03:17And we have to be ready for every single game we play.
03:21Hi, Nadine. Good luck for tomorrow.
03:23You've had a very close view of Tasman-Britz, how she's come good in the last, especially, a month or so.
03:31When asked about it, she's played it coy.
03:34She's saying, I don't know what changed.
03:35But can you put words into what actually has changed in her game that she's so much more consistent?
03:42The conversion rate, especially to hit those big centuries.
03:44If you could give us a little more insight on that.
03:47Yeah, I'm actually not sure myself.
03:49I think she's always been a quality player.
03:52You know, I think she's dominated domestic cricket back home for a couple of years now, actually.
03:57And probably hasn't had the best run in ODI cricket.
04:00But I think she's been phenomenal for us in the last year and a half.
04:04She's really come good this year as well, which is great for us.
04:07Obviously, now at a World Cup, which is really important for the top order to put their hands up.
04:10So, yeah, I guess I'm not sure what changed for her.
04:14But obviously, from a mental point of view, I think she's a really strong character.
04:18And I think she's a really confident player as well.
04:20And I think when she's at her best, she is as destructive as any batter in the world.
04:24So, glad she's on my team.
04:26I don't have to bowl to her at the moment.
04:28And, yeah, like I said, hopefully she can keep going for us.
04:30Because she's setting it up beautifully for us, especially our middle order and back end.
04:36Just to follow up on that, I think after the last match, she said she was very annoyed with how the first match went against England.
04:43And Laura spoke about having short memories.
04:46Like, we need to forget, we need to remember that we are a good side, forget this match.
04:49Just what was the conversation after the England match in the dressing room?
04:54And was, like, people just decided that we need to move on?
04:57Or was there some honest appraisal of what had happened?
05:00Just a little bit insight on what changed.
05:03Yeah, look, I think, obviously, I think a bit unexpected that first game.
05:07And we got blown away.
05:08And I think sometimes it's really hard to take, especially our first game.
05:11There's been a massive hype about this World Cup.
05:13And you rock up and you get rolled for 70, which is never nice.
05:16And I think everybody took it quite personally.
05:18We didn't dig too deep into it, to be honest.
05:21I think, and Laura said it as well, we're much better than 69 all out.
05:25We just had a horrible day.
05:27And there was no one that put their hands up and kind of just got stuck in the middle.
05:31But we know that happens in cricket sometimes.
05:33So I think we moved on pretty quickly.
05:34We had a couple of discussions just around game plans and how we're going to go about it.
05:38Because, like I said, it is the trend of this World Cup.
05:41Spinners are going to dominate.
05:42So it's just about finding a way.
05:43And I think to come back after that, the second game has been incredible.
05:47To have Tasman and Sunay stand up and put their hands up after we lost an early wicket has been incredible.
05:53And, yeah, like I said, it just brings a lot of good vibes and a lot of positivity within our group
05:57just to showcase that we are capable of it, even if the wickets are a bit on the slower side.
06:04Hi, Nadine.
06:05Good luck for tomorrow.
06:07South Africa faced India in the Tri-Series earlier.
06:10India's Pacers have been doing well.
06:14They did really well in the last match.
06:15The spinners, obviously, there's immense variety.
06:18Are you expecting to be challenged more by the spin or the pace?
06:22And what is your preparation in the lead-up to the game tomorrow?
06:25Yeah, look, I think India is obviously a quality bowling attack.
06:28I think especially their two new ball bowlers has been quite successful, even in conditions where it's been a bit more suitable for the spinners.
06:35I think they're looking to swing the ball early on and they kind of put teams on the back foot by picking up a few early wickets.
06:41But, yeah, like I said, I think we're well prepared for whatever comes our way.
06:45But we do expect to be spin-heavy.
06:48It has been, whenever we've played them, really, even in the Tri-Series, it's been spin-dominant.
06:53So I think that will probably be the biggest focus is still try and get through that new ball pair that's been really successful for them over the last couple of months.
07:02But, yeah, I think spin is going to be really key for both sides.
07:04And I think whoever plays, spend the best, will come out on top.
07:12Hi, Nadine.
07:13Vishal from CrickInfo.
07:15Most of the talk before the World Cup started was around massive totals being expected in this World Cup or turning pitches since it's India and some matches in Sri Lanka.
07:25As a medium pacer yourself, what kind of challenges do these things pose in front of you?
07:30Because Indore has seen big scores and Guwahati and Colombo.
07:35We have seen grip and slow tracks which provide assistance for the spinners.
07:42Yeah, I think we, well, for me personally, I think it suits my game quite well.
07:47I think obviously being one of the slow bowlers in the side.
07:50But, yeah, I think in the past I've been quite comfortable bowling on these type of conditions.
07:55But I think also the rest of our bowling attack as well.
07:58I think, you know, even though Kapi's probably one of the best new bowl bowlers in the world, I think she's adapted really well to these conditions as well.
08:06Same with Ayabonga.
08:06So I think our paces has actually done really well.
08:09Not only the previous game, but I also think going back to Pakistan and the Tri Series when we were over here earlier this year.
08:16So, yeah, I think our paces has done really well.
08:19I think, like I said, we've assessed conditions well.
08:21And I think, yeah, all our bowlers have the skill sets to adapt to these slower conditions.
08:27And, yeah, our spinners are world-class when they're on song.
08:30So hopefully it can all come together for us tomorrow.
08:33Have you had a chance to look at the pitch yet?
08:35No, not yet.
08:37All the best.
08:38Thank you so much.
08:38Just a couple of questions from back home.
08:44Thank you so much.
08:46Nadine, just a couple of questions from back home.
08:50Thus far, there haven't been many fans present at the matches.
08:54How will the team cope with the challenge of facing hosts in there in front of what is expected to be a loud and noisy crowd at home?
09:01Yeah, I guess it's always a challenge.
09:02But I think it's also nice.
09:03I think we were here last year, some stage, and it was also quite a big crowd.
09:09So I think it's a nice thing about women's cricket in India.
09:12It's great to see all the support.
09:14And, yeah, I guess it's a bit different than what we're used to.
09:17But I think it's a really exciting challenge and, yeah, obviously a massive clash as well.
09:21So I think it brings a lot of excitement.
09:23I presume the key would be to start well, either take a couple of vikets early or get a solid partnership to sort of silence the crowd.
09:29Has that been spoken about concerning particularly starting well in team meetings, building up to the game?
09:35Yeah, I think it's actually been a big topic over the last couple of months, to be honest.
09:40I think that's the only way you put teams on the back foot, really, is by taking vikets.
09:44So I think whether we bat or bowl first, I think it's kind of the opposite.
09:48When you bowl first, you want to strike early.
09:49You want to put teams on the back foot.
09:50And when you bat first, you want to kind of combat that.
09:53So you don't want to lose two or three vikets in the power play.
09:55So I think tomorrow, obviously, going to be key.
09:58They've had a really successful opening pair as well.
10:00They've had a great run in ODI cricket over the last year and a bit.
10:04So I think it's going to be really important for us to rock up here, heat our straps, and try and put them on the back foot as soon as possible.
10:11Mandana has been in prolific form against South Africa, but has been quite quiet in this World Cup thus far.
10:16Without divulging anything, have you been working on specific plans and attempt to keep her quiet?
10:21Yeah, quality player.
10:22And like you said, she's done well against us in the past.
10:24But I think, again, with conditions being a bit on the slower side, I think, you know, we're going to really back ourselves to either keep her quiet or get her early and try and put her under pressure.
10:34But, yeah, like I said, they have like eight or nine really good batters.
10:38So I think the focus is not too much just on one person.
10:41But, yeah, I think we're all pretty clear on where we want to get her out, how we want to go about our business.
10:47Again, try and break that opening stand that's been so successful for them over the last couple of months and really try and get that middle order in as early as possible.
10:55We all know, yeah, if you haven't quite spent as much time in the middle, it's quite difficult on tricky conditions to walk in and put up a massive score.
11:02So, yeah, hopefully that all goes according to plan.
11:05Thank you so much, ladies and gentlemen.
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