England against South Africa – Women’s Global Tournament Begins
Silence please! The pre-match talk has concluded, for now at least, while the World Cup journey for England is about to begin. The bad news is, they begin against a formidable opponent with South Africa as their first rival. The good news is, they kick off with a demanding fixture facing the South Africans. Victory today could provide immediate impetus for England and legitimise the careful optimism of their pre-tournament chatter.
Pre-Competition Confidence
An excellent win over Australia in their previous practice game has increased that confidence, although the personal contributions from Alice Capsey (remaining unbeaten on 88) and Sarah Glenn (taking 5 wickets for 32 runs) gave Charlotte Edwards a slight selection headache.
Edwards is known for her success, meaning there is little chance of the team having modest ambitions. But from a distance they occupy a rare spot where their tournament benchmark is quite obvious.
Competition Outlook
Not making the last four could be a slight surprise, despite the progress made by usual lower-ranked teams. Making it to the championship match in front of the Aussies or Indians, the primary frontrunners to win the competition, would be a serious achievement. Should England emerge victorious… it's best not to entertain that thought. It’s much too premature for that sort of talk.
The game today starts at 10.30am BST.
