Silence please! The talking is over, for the time being, and England’s World Cup is set to start. Unfortunately, they face a challenging match with South Africa as their first rival. Fortunately, they kick off with a demanding fixture against South Africa. Success today could provide immediate impetus for England and validate the measured self-belief in their build-up discussions.
Pre-Tournament Momentum
A superb victory against the Australians during their final preparatory match has boosted that self-assurance, even if the personal contributions of Alice Capsey (88 not out) and Sarah Glenn (5 for 32) gave Charlotte Edwards a slight selection headache.
Edwards has a winning mentality, so there’s no danger of England setting their sights low. However, looking broadly they occupy a rare spot with a well-defined expectation for the event.
Tournament Expectations
Not making the last four would be a minor shocker, even considering the advances from historically weaker sides. Reaching the final ahead of either Australia or India, the primary frontrunners to claim the title, would represent a major feat. If the English side triumphs… no, let’s not go there. It’s much too premature for such discussions.
This fixture commences at 10:30 AM British Summer Time.
