hilton moreeng
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Proteas coach Hilton Moreeng says Cricket South Africa’s fitness requirements are “non-negotiable” as they move from all-rounder Dane van Niekerk.
Van Niekerk was omitted from South Africa’s T20 Women’s World Cup squad after failing a fitness test.
READ | ‘We did everything we could’: Unboxing SA star’s failed fitness test as World Cup dream shattered
Van Niekerk failed in one category, needing to run 2km in nine minutes and 30 seconds and then missing the mark by 18 seconds.
Moreeng stated that his team must get over Van Niekerk’s snub and accept the CSA’s physical fitness requirements.
“If you look at the minimum standard required for players to be available for selection. At the end of the day, it’s how you balance the team and the results you get from fitness,” Moreeng told reporters on Wednesday.
“The requirement is non-negotiable in the country and every professional cricketer knows that.
“So we have bigger squads to make sure we have enough depth at certain positions. Once the final fitness list is delivered to the coaches and selectors, we look at what we have and how we can balance it out and then you take it.” . from there.”
Moreeng believes she has a good enough team to win the World Cup as South Africa will host the first Women’s World Cup on African soil from February 10-26.
“It’s the strongest 15 available to us and we think it’s the best, especially with the conditions we find ourselves in,” Moreeng said.
Proteas T20 Women’s World Cup Squad:
Suné Luus (Titans – captain), Chloé Tryon (Dolphins – vice-captain), Anneke Bosch (North West Dragons), Tazmin Brits (Garden Route Badgers), Nadine de Klerk (Western Province), Annerie Dercksen (Garden Route Badgers), Lara Goodall (Western Province), Shabnim Ismail (Dolphins), Sinalo Jafta (Western Province), Marizanne Kapp (Eastern Province), Ayabonga Khaka (Lions), Masabata Klaas (Northwest Dragons), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Dolphins), Delmi Tucker ( Western Province), Laura Wolvaardt (Western Province)
Non-Roaming Reserves: Micaéla Andrews (Garden Route Badgers), Tebogo Macheke (Titans), Tumi Sekhukhune (Lions)
The multi-talented Sune Luus will once again lead the women of Proteas in next week’s World Masterpiece and Moreeng backs Luus in her capacity as captain.
“She (Luus) understands her role very well, [she’s] very professional, and he’s been around the game long enough to know how the game has evolved and how the team is in transition,” Moreeng said.
“She knows what work needs to be done and she jumped at the chance to lead the team with both hands. For her, it’s just picking up where she left off, she’s been good at it.”
“She led the team with distinction and we have to give her the support she needs. She can also take care of herself as a player, we know what her skills are. She has been training very well, so we are very happy with what we have seen.”
The Proteas will be without Van Niekerk’s wife, Marizanne Kapp, when they take on India in the tri-series final at Buffalo Park on Wednesday.
The game starts at 15:00.
