England against The South African Squad – Women's Cricket World Cup Kicks Off
Quiet now! The pre-match talk has concluded, for now at least, and the World Cup journey for England is set to start. On the downside, they begin against a formidable opponent versus the South African side. On the upside, they kick off with a demanding fixture opposing the Proteas. Success today might boost England's confidence right away and justify the careful optimism from their pre-competition talk.
Pre-Tournament Momentum
An impressive triumph versus the Aussies in their last warm-up has heightened their belief, although the standout displays by Alice Capsey (scoring 88 not out) and Sarah Glenn (5 for 32) presented Charlotte Edwards with a minor dilemma.
Edwards has a winning mentality, thus there is no risk of the team having modest ambitions. However, looking broadly they find themselves in a somewhat uncommon situation with a well-defined expectation for the event.
Tournament Expectations
Failure to reach the semi-finals would be a minor shocker, even allowing for the advances from historically weaker sides. Advancing to the ultimate game in front of the Aussies or Indians, the two clear favourites to claim the title, would mark a significant accomplishment. And if England win it… it's best not to entertain that thought. It’s way too early for such discussions.
This fixture commences at 10.30am BST.
