Luus to lead South Africa in van Niekerk's absence in home ODIs against West Indies
Lizelle Lee out as she recovers from Covid-19; Raisibe Ntozakhe, who was recently cleared to bowl internationally, included in squad of 18
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Jan-2022
Sune Luus has led South Africa in 16 ODIs and 15 T20Is in the past • Getty Images
After an ankle injury put Dane van Niekerk out of action for at least three months, Lizelle Lee, too, has been forced to miss South Africa's upcoming ODI series against West Indies at home; Lee, ICC's Women's ODI Cricketer of the Year for 2021, is recovering from Covid-19. Sune Luus will take over the captaincy for the series of four ODIs, with Chloe Tryon named vice-captain.
South Africa still have a formidable squad, with senior pros Marizanne Kapp, Shabnim Ismail, Laura Wolvaardt, Mignon du Preez and Trisha Chetty all in the mix, apart from Luus and Tryon.
"Sune has really managed the captaincy quite well in the absence of our leaders, Dane and Chloe, and we are quite exciting to be giving her the role again and in our conversations with her, she really rolled out the pathway for us, getting through the West Indies tour and for the World Cup," convenor of selectors Clinton du Preez said in a CSA statement. "We are quite happy to have her back in that role and I am sure the leadership and the senior players in the team will give her massive support.
"Chloe as the vice-captain is a great combination between the two individuals and personalities and we think it will be a balanced approach for our successes."
Luus has led South Africa in 16 of her 88 ODIs and 15 of her 83 T20Is.
In the squad of 18 is 25-year-old offspinner Raisibe Ntozakhe, who was cleared to bowl in international cricket in September last year after being suspended from bowling for a suspect action and undergoing remedial work.
"We are quite comfortable with the squad we have selected. It's a balanced squad and we have gone for an extended squad to give more players an opportunity to ensure that we compliment the skillsets within the team," du Preez said. "It's greatly important for us to fill the vacancy of Dane van Niekerk, and therefore we looked at a few options.
"It is also quite exciting to have Raisibe Ntozakhe back in the squad and for her to be playing international cricket again, it will be a great opportunity for her to revive her career.
"With the conditions up in Johannesburg, it will suit us to play against the West Indies. They are normally used to the slow, turning wickets and for now, it is a great opportunity to strike with our bowlers and to also have a balanced approach to those results."
When South Africa met West Indies last, in the Caribbean, for a series of three T20Is and five ODIs, the T20Is were split 1-1 (with one no-result), and South Africa won the ODIs 4-1. Lee and Wolvaardt topped the overall run-chart for that series, scoring 248 (at 124.00) and 161 (at 53.66) respectively, while among the bowlers, below van Niekerk's chart-topping eight wickets, Ayabonga Khaka (six wickets) and Kapp and Luus (five wickets each) claimed the top positions.
Squad: Sune Luus (capt), Chloe Tryon (vice-capt), Andrie Steyn, Anneke Bosch, Ayabonga Khaka, Lara Goodall, Laura Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp, Masabata Klaas, Mignon du Preez, Nadine de Klerk, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Raisibe Ntozakhe, Shabnim Ismail, Sinalo Jafta, Tazmin Brits, Trisha Chetty, Tumi Sekhukhune