England v The South African Squad – Women’s Global Tournament Starts
Quiet now! All discussions have ended, for now at least, while the World Cup journey for England is about to begin. On the downside, they start with a tough game against South Africa. On the upside, they open with a stern test facing the South Africans. Success today could provide immediate impetus for England and justify the cautious confidence of their pre-tournament chatter.
Pre-Tournament Momentum
An excellent win against the Australians during their final preparatory match has increased that confidence, even if the standout displays of Alice Capsey (88 not out) and Sarah Glenn (taking 5 wickets for 32 runs) gave Charlotte Edwards a slight selection headache.
Edwards has a winning mentality, thus there is no risk of the team having modest ambitions. But from a distance they are in the slightly unusual position where their tournament benchmark is quite obvious.
Competition Outlook
Falling short of the semis could be a slight surprise, despite the advances from historically weaker sides. Advancing to the ultimate game ahead of either Australia or India, the two top contenders to win the competition, would mark a significant accomplishment. And if England win it… it's best not to entertain that thought. It’s much too premature for such discussions.
The game today starts at 10.30am BST.
