As the Proteas Women prepare for the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, set to take place in the United Arab Emirates from 3 October – 20 October, all-rounder Anneke Bosch is focused on making a significant impact both personally and for her team.
Anneke brings her right-handed batting prowess and a wealth of experience to the tournament. With a strong belief in the importance of teamwork, preparation and fan support, she reflects on the highlights leading up to the World Cup, including recent performances against top teams like India and Pakistan.
As she gears up for this high-stakes competition, Anneke shares her goals, challenges, and hopes for an unforgettable experience on the world stage, exclusively with WH.
WH: What have been some of the highlights so far, leading up to the World Cup?
AB: I would say the T20 series we had in India. We performed quite well, which boosted our confidence and validated the hard work we’ve been putting in. We ended up drawing the series and in one of the games, we scored around 170, which was consistent with our other match where we also posted a similar total. Overall, we were pleased with our performance in India, and then also obviously the recent series against Pakistan. Winning that series in their conditions, along with our strong showing in India against a world-class team really highlights our progress leading up to the World Cup.
WH: What specific personal goals have you set for yourself during this tournament, and how do you plan to achieve them?
AB: I think my focus is on having an influence and making an impact in the games I play, always striving to be at my best for the team and doing whatever is necessary to put us in a better position. My personal goals are aligned with the team goals, which are to go all the way in the tournament and do really well, with the hope of lifting the trophy. So, my personal goals and team goals are the same at the moment, and I just want to do the best I can and be the best version of myself for the team.
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WH: In what ways do you believe your skills and experience contribute to the team’s overall strategy and performance?
AB: I think, when it comes to batting, I enjoy taking the initiative and trying to bat quickly, expressing myself and playing freely while scoring at a fast pace. I like taking risks—calculated risks, hopefully. I prefer to play an attacking style, which reflects our recent team and batting culture, where we focus on expressing ourselves and batting with intensity. We’re always looking for opportunities to score, and recently, we’ve been given the freedom to play more openly. I believe this support from the coaches has been essential for us as a batting unit.
WH: Can you walk us through your preparations for the World Cup? How do you prepare mentally and physically for such high-stakes matches?
AB: Yeah, I think the break we had after the Pakistan series, with a couple of days off in Dubai, was good for me mentally. It allowed me to take my mind off cricket, which is important because during a series or when matches are closely scheduled, that’s all I tend to think about and focus on.
So, I believe it’s beneficial to step away from the game a little. As for preparing for the World Cup games, I don’t think I’ll approach it much differently than other games. It is obviously a bigger occasion with more at stake, but I see it as just another game. Every time I play for South Africa, I want to perform at my best and give my all. So, there’s not much difference in how I prepare for a World Cup game compared to any other game.
WH: What has been the biggest challenge for you or the team leading up to the World Cup, and how are you addressing it?
AB: I think the weather here is insane—crazy hot! I really don’t know how anyone can do sports in this heat. Well, we’ll have to manage it now, but all three of our training sessions were in the afternoon, from 2 to 5 p.m., and it was super, super hot. We also have two group games scheduled during that same time, so the weather and heat have been our biggest challenge.
We’re doing our best to find ways to cope with it and part of that is mentally preparing ourselves since it’s not going to get any better. We need to figure out how to deal with it because it’s not changing and it’s out of our control. However, we can control our attitude towards it and how we prepare for it, especially on a mental level.
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WH: How do you foster camaraderie and teamwork among your teammates, especially in a pressure-filled environment like the World Cup?
AB: Yeah, I think it’s important to be there for your teammates and check up on them regularly, making sure everyone is okay and still focused. A quick catch-up with teammates, especially those you don’t see every day, can really make a difference. When you do see them, it’s good to check in and see how they’re doing.
I believe our team is in a good space right now. We’ve had a couple of team activities recently, and everyone seems to be looking forward to the World Cup. The spirit and camaraderie (I’m not sure how to say that word haha) are strong at the moment, which is very important as we head into the tournament.
WH: How important is fan support to you and the team during the World Cup, and what message do you have for them?
AB: Yeah, it’s obviously very important for us. It always helps to know we have a lot of fans supporting us. If we look back at the World Cup we had at home last year, the support we received was incredible, with so many people coming out to watch the games. Knowing that people are rooting for us really makes a big difference. We truly appreciate all the support we get, and while this World Cup isn’t at home, we’re hoping to receive similar support to what we had last year.
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WH: What do you hope to take away from your World Cup experience?
AB: The trophy. I think that would be the best takeaway from this World Cup… walking away with the trophy. But overall, I want to learn as much as I can. This is only my second World Cup, so I’m eager to gain insights from the experience of a knockout tournament. I also want to make plenty of memories, have fun, and enjoy the experience with the team.
Stay up to date with Anneke’s World Cup journey by following her on Instagram and stay tuned to the action with the schedule below.
South Africa’s Fixtures – ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 (03 – 20 October)
- Friday, 04 October @ 12h00 SAST: 1st Match: South Africa vs West Indies (Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai)
- Monday, 07 October @ 16h00 SAST: 2nd Match: England vs South Africa (Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah)
- Wednesday, 09 October @ 12h00 SAST: 3rd Match: South Africa vs Scotland (Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai)
- Saturday, 12 October @ 16h00 SAST: 4th Match: Bangladesh vs South Africa (Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai)
- Thursday, 17 October @ 16h00 SAST: Semi-final 1 (Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai)
- Friday, 18 October @ 16h00 SAST: Semi-final 2 (Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah)
- Sunday, 20 October @ 16h00 SAST: Final (Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai)
