As South Africa intensifies its commitment to developing women’s cricket, Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced a 15-member Women’s Emerging Academy squad for an exciting white-ball tour of Namibia, scheduled from 2-12 July 2025. The tour, seen as a vital steppingstone between domestic competition and the Proteas Women’s national team, promises to test and showcase some of the country’s brightest up-and-coming talents.
Head coach Dinesha Devnarain will oversee a well-balanced squad that deftly combines promising talent with a dash of international experience. Former South Africa U19 Women’s skippers Oluhle Siyo (2023) and Kayla Reyneke (2025) bring proven leadership, while the inclusion of Proteas Women capped all-rounders Delmi Tucker and Eliz-Mari Marx adds an invaluable edge.
Performers from the domestic 2024/25 season headline the lineup, including Alexandra Candler, who tallied 387 runs to top the batting charts, and spinner Kgomotso Rapoo, the leading wicket-taker with 18 dismissals in the Hollywoodbets Pro 50. In T20s, Nicole de Klerk (219 runs) and Leah Jones (14 wickets) earned their call-ups through explosive performances, underscoring South Africa’s increasing depth in the women’s game.
Speaking about the squad and the upcoming tour, coach Devnarain emphasised the strategic importance of international exposure. “Touring Namibia is another exciting step in our long-term strategy to bridge the gap between domestic cricket and the national setup. Having a majority of this group come off a challenging tour in Bangladesh earlier this year gives us continuity and allows us to measure growth across different conditions,” she stated.
She also highlighted the value of facing Namibia’s senior team: “It builds character, sharpens our understanding of the game, and gives players the confidence to express themselves at a higher level. Facing Namibia’s senior national team adds a competitive edge that will challenge our players tactically and mentally.”
South Africa Women’s Emerging Academy Squad:
Alexandra Candler, Jenna Evans, Nicole de Klerk, Gandhi Jafta, Leah Jones, Mona-Lisa Legodi, Simone Lourens, Eliz-Mari Marx, Luyanda Nzuza, Kgomotso Rapoo, Verunissa Reddy, Kayla Reyneke, Oluhle Siyo, Delmi Tucker, Caitlyn Wyngaard
With the squad set to depart for Windhoek on 30 June, anticipation is high. This tour not only represents an opportunity for South Africa’s emerging stars to make their mark but also underlines CSA’s vision of sustained investment in women’s cricket.
Fixtures:
1st T20 – Wednesday, July 2
2nd T20 – Thursday, July 3
3rd T20 – Saturday, July 5
4th T20 – Sunday, July 6
*All games will be played at High Performance Oval, Windhoek, and have a start time of 14:00 SAST
1st One Dayer – Tuesday, July 8
2nd One Dayer – Thursday, July 10
3rd One Dayer – Saturday, July 12
*All games will be played at High Performance Oval, Windhoek, and have a start time of 100:00 SAST
Expect fierce competition, potential breakout performances, and a glimpse of the future of South African cricket as the Women’s Emerging Academy takes on Namibia’s Capricorn Eagles.
(Quotes sourced from SuperSport)
