England won their three-match ODI series against South Africa with a convincing victory in Potchefstroom yesterday (December 11), following their 3-0 series win in the T20I series. Ahead of the one-off Test match between the two sides, here's what we learned from the white-ball leg of the tour.
South Africa's next generation rising through the ranks
South Africa rested both Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka from the T20I part of the tour, with Kapp fresh out of the WBBL and Khaka off the back of a period of high workload leading into the T20 World Cup. In their places, Eliz-Mari Marx and Nondumiso Shangase were recalled, to go along with a largely developmental lineup for the first part of the tour. Ayanda Hlubi was also given an opportunity in all three T20Is, with Annerie Dercksen also filling a different position with the bat in each T20I match, before being moved up to No.4 in the ODIs.
While South Africa lost both white-ball series, this approach to bringing new players through in series which have little overhead meaning – both sides have already qualified for both next year's 50-over World Cup and the 2026 T20 World Cup – gave them an opportunity to get match-time eyes on players outside the core. Dercksen continued to impress as an allrounder to potentially take South Africa through Marizanne Kapp's eventual retirement, while Marx was their best bowler in the opening T20I, dismissing Maia Bouchier, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight. With South Africa's golden generation now entering their mid-30s or already having hung up their boots, their transitional period is well underway.
🗣️ "I just think it's such a massive weapon to be able to bowl those big hooping innies."
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) December 8, 2024
Lauren Winfield-Hill on the value of inswing in women's cricket and Lauren Bell's evolution as a bowler.
🤝 @Metro_Bank pic.twitter.com/90KffvzUwo
Multi-format tours need added relevance
Coming into this series, both sides were smarting from failing to lift the T20 World Cup Trophy, England from a premature exit and South Africa from consecutive final losses. While there was plenty to prove both to critics and internally, there was little else to add any jeopardy to the series. Neither side had an incentive to win points for the Women's Championship table, having already secured World Cup qualification, and it was only a month since the end of the T20 World Cup by the time the T20I series was completed.
The actual cricket played in the series to some extent has lacked an underlying impetus other than in England's case gearing up for the Ashes, and in both's cases, looking ahead to next year's World Cup. Equally, a one off Test at the end has even lesser meaning given the infrequency in which the format's played.
Watch: Nat Sciver-Brunt backheels flannel onto own arm in never-seen-before dead ball
It seems a no brainer that three-format tours like this should be played under a points system, like every women's Ashes series. That would encourage sides to field their best XIs consistently, while also feeding into an overarching story covering the entire tour.
Is Beaumont in line for a T20I return?
England were unable to provide a conclusive answer to their T20I opener dilemma during the shortest format series. Maia Bouchier has been in occupation as Danni Wyatt's opening partner since the beginning of this year, but after a largely poor World Cup, she was unable to make an impression in the opening two T20Is, before scoring a quick-fire 35 in the third. While there's no immediate haste to replace Bouchier after a short-term loss of form, Tammy Beaumont's innings in the final ODI might give England pause for thought.
With the match essentially reduced to a T20I chase, Beaumont hit 65 off 46 balls to recover England from a top order collapse and seal the series-win. Having been edged out by Bouchier earlier this year, there is now a way for both to feature in England's Ashes T20I lineup. Sophia Dunkley made two single-figure scores in the opening two T20Is batting at No.3. With Alice Capsey seemingly on the sidelines for the time-being, dropping Dunkley either directly for Beaumont or pushing Bouchier down to three might give England a more stable top-order.
Annerie Dercksen ☝️
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) December 8, 2024
Marizanne Kapp ☝️
Nadine de Klerk ☝️
Charlie Dean took a hat-trick for England, though few seemed to realise it! 😬
Scorecard ➡️ https://t.co/xX0roA6N89 pic.twitter.com/BO5jiBQkzn
Filer's stock rises
Having been 'unlucky' in Jon Lewis's words to miss out on T20 World Cup selection, Lauren Filer's international return was highly anticipated before the series, particularly on pitches most suited to quicker bowlers. After initially struggling for control in Benoni, the second ODI in Durban showed to talent England have on their hands.
The ball she bowled Tamzin Brits with shaped in and pulled middle stump out of the ground, while the ripper she dealt Sune Luus accounted for both middle and leg. Mixing up her lines and lengths, she demonstrated the kind of control England have asked her to work on over the last year, and might just have increased her chances of earning a WPL contract before the end of the year.
Dean surpasses Ecclestone understudy status
Having consistently served as Ecclestone's junior in terms of ICC rankings and England standing, this year Charlie Dean has shown she is just as much of an essential cog in England's machine. She took 13 wickets across the three T20Is and three ODIs, including a hat-trick in the second ODI, for which she was named player of the ODI series.
Also read: England spinner takes hat-trick without anyone noticing during dramatic South Africa collapse
Mainly brought on to bowl in tandem with Ecclestone in the middle overs, rather than keeping up the pressure while Ecclestone cleaned up at the other end it was Dean who was largely the strike bowler during the series. For spinners with the most wickets in women's ODIs this year, she's significantly closed the gap to Ecclestone and is now second place in the standings just one wicket behind her fellow England finger-spinner.
