9 February - Cape Town - South Africa Captain Sune Luus pre-match press conference

[Reporter]

Sune, can you talk a little bit about the significance of being a South African woman playing a home World Cup, and just what does it mean in a country where, I suppose, women haven't been at the forefront and in the spotlight for such a long time?

[Sune]

Yeah, thank you. It's quite massive. I don't think we quite realize what we already achieved without playing the game. I think it's going to be awesome tomorrow just seeing everyone coming out. And I think apart from the cricketing things and apart from being successful and winning games, I think there's a responsibility of inspiring a nation as well and inspiring young girls to get out of their comfort zones and to, I guess, imagine a career that they can do anything. And I think that's one of our biggest roles as a team we would like to play, not just winning games, but also inspiring a nation to give them that opportunity to know that they can be anything they want.

[Reporter]

Can I just ask you about Nonkululeko Mlaba? She's so high up on the rankings now, and I guess conditions could suit her here. What role do you expect her to play?

[Sune]

Yeah, she's been fantastic in our team, and I think she started at a very young age, and I think she's grown leaps and bounds over the last couple of years in terms of her bowling. And I think every game she's playing; she's just getting more confidence. And I think she's going to be vital for us being our main spinner and just controlling the game.

[Reporter]

You've captained South Africa quite a number of times now. Is that something that you specifically work on developing as a skill? And as part of that, how have you sort of managed the team and morale in Dane's absence, the fact that she's not here?

[Sune]

Yeah, I guess it's always difficult being a standing captain. You're always one foot in, one foot out. But I think as I grew up, I was always a leader at some stage in whatever team I played. So, I think those leadership qualities came natural to me, and I think it's a role I would really like to grow into. And I think every game you play; you get more accustomed to your teammates next to you and what they want and what they need. So, I think every game you play, you grow into that role. And I think the older I get, the more I understand as well what needs to be done.

[Reporter]

You've said this feeling of being a standing captain is one foot out, one foot in. Do you find it an uncomfortable place to be? Or is it just this is the reality and here we are?

[Sune]

I think it's just the reality. But at the moment, I'm an official captain, so I think it makes my job easier to take control and kind of stamp my authority on things and how I would like to go about things and how I would like to do things. So, I think it comes with a new dimension, and it brings new challenges and difficulties, but it's a challenge I'm willing to take on and accept and grow in that role.

[Reporter]

Sune if you could sum up. What advice would you give to young players who want to go into cricket?

[Sune]

Like I said, I think I'm still growing into it, but I would like to think I'm very calm and collected on the field. I think some people might say I'm too calm and too chilled, but I think in difficult times that's what a team needs. I'm someone that's also going a bit frantic and don't know what's happening. But I think bringing calm and composure to the team when things aren't going well, I think that's a very important quality to have.

[Reporter]

Sune, you speak a lot about the team. I was just wondering, for you personally, captaining your country what does it mean to you and your family?

[Sune]

Yeah, it's massive. Funny you should bring up my family, my parents just missed their flight. Hopefully they make it for the first game to be here and supporting me. But no, it's massive, and I think the moment I phoned my dad and I told him, this is how it's going to be, he started crying and he was just so proud. I think it's just a massive, massive honour to lead a country, not just in any series, but at a home World Cup, I think that makes it even more special.

[Reporter]

You had two warm-up games this week, one win, one loss against England. What did you take out of that game before the first one?

[Sune]

Yeah, I think obviously the result showed a loss and a win, but I think both games for us were wins. I think England posted that mammoth total and we only lost by 17 runs, which I take as a big stride in our team. I think our batting has come a long way and I think to chase down a 227, I think what we got, I think that was massive and our biggest score yet. And I think that's really, really cool to see, just going into a T20 World Cup, what we can actually do and pushing those 160s, 170s, if the pitches allow that.

[Reporter]

Sune, thinking back to the 2020 World Cup, the World Cup in 2020 in Australia, can you just explain the difference in how you guys feel compared to going into that World Cup where you obviously did really well, but just the sense of going into such a big tournament at home, can you just describe the differences going into this one?

[Sune]

Yeah, I think obviously giving ourselves two years, three years' time, I think a lot of the skills has improved, so I think going into this World Cup, we're more confident in our skill set that we have and I think we have more options going into this World Cup individually as well. So, I think we're a more confident side, although we're very young, we have a well-balanced side of experienced players and young players as well, but I think it's very exciting for everyone going into this World Cup, just knowing the skill set we have and how we've developed over the last two years.

[Reporter]

And then you've spoken about how it's such a mammoth occasion and all the spectators and the family members that will be here, it's been spoken about, and it's obviously at home and you're inspiring a generation of girls. Is there a sense of pressure on you because of all of the expectation? Is there a sense of pressure on you and the side or is it a sense of calmness or responsibility, just what's the feeling in the camp?

[Sune]

I think there's always going to be pressure and you're always going to feel it whether you play at home or not, but I think we've spoken a lot about it and how we would want to go about this World Cup. We just need to embrace the moment and embrace the pressure and take it on and run with it. I think there's not much you can do about the pressure and all the people that's going to be here and all the media saying things and all the expectation. I think you just have to embrace it and stay in the moment and play a good game of cricket.

[Reporter]

You have a few members of your team, like Shabnim Ismail and Marizanne Kapp, in their latter years of their career. What does this World Cup mean to them and just how are you going to go about it? Are you going to kind of – how is this team sensing around this special occasion, especially with the senior members of the squad?

[Sune]

Yeah, I think if you speak to Shabnim Ismail, she will say it's only the start of her career. But no, I think it's – every game they take on, they take it as the last game of their career. They give everything they have 100 per cent in every game and I think this World Cup won't be any different. We don't know when they're going to call it or when they decide they want to put the jersey aside, but I think for us, we're just focusing on every game. Every game for us, whether you're just starting out debuting or whether it's one of your last games, I think it's always special to walk out onto the park with a badge.

[Reporter]

I know your hand was a bit forced in that England warm-up meeting, such a big total, but in terms of the opening pair of Wolvaardt and Brits, it looks as though that's going to be a key part of your sort of ethos and tactics with the bat. Brits especially looks as if she's going to be someone who steps up a little bit more in a Proteus shirt. What do you think that opening pair brings to the overall team and kind of overall plan potentially with the bat and the power play overs?

[Sune]

Yeah, I think they're both very aggressive players. I think if you look at the England World Cup game and the Pakistan World Cup game, Tazmin kind of played very aggressively in that England warm-up game and then Laura showed her class yesterday in the Pakistan warm-up game where she took the bowlers on as well. So, I think they complement each other well. I think when one is going, the other one is kind of just consolidating. So, I think it's going to be a very exciting opening pair for us and I think they have the ability to take the power play to where we want to be and push those 40s and 50s.

[Reporter]

Hi, Sune. First of all, congrats on being named as the captain for the World Cup and all the rest for the tournament. So, I just wanted to ask, you have led South Africa in two global events at this point in the last 12 months. Is there something that is different in the way you approach such tournaments because of what is at stake and the pressure that comes with it as a captain? Or is there any difference at all? Do you feel it as a captain?

[Sune]

I try not to. I think if you sit down and think about all the things that's happening around you and the amounts of pressure and the big occasion that we have here, I think you will put yourself under a lot of pressure and that might not go down so well. So, I'm trying to focus on the game tomorrow evening and just focus on cricket and just trying to focus on my plans and what I need to do to execute and lead the team to a victory. So, I think it's just being in the moment for me and focusing one game at a time.

[Reporter]

Just one more from me. As we saw in the recently concluded Under-19 World Cup, the South Africa Under-19 team lost just one game and could not make it to the knockouts. This tournament is also a very short tournament where if a team wins six games, they will be winning the trophy. So, every game has a lot at stake in that sense. How does the South African team plan to approach that particular aspect where each game has a lot more at stake than what generally is?

[Sune]

Yeah, I think an IT20 cricket can change with every over, but I think for us it's just to focus one game at a time. I don't think we need to be thinking too far ahead. So, I think our game plan has always been just to focus on the game that we have coming. So, I think it's just that and not to think too far ahead. Otherwise, you will, I don't know, get out of the moment and not focus on what you need to do.

[Reporter]

Thank you and then just speaking about tomorrow, Sune have you had a chance to look at the pitch and what you expected to play like and then also the opponent, Sri Lanka, what do you think their biggest threats are going to be?

[Sune]

Yeah, I think Newlands is always a good ground to play on. I think obviously with the SA20 being a lot of cricket has been played on it. So, we're not expecting a road, but I think they're also producing very good wickets. So, it should be a very good wicket. And in terms of Sri Lanka, we know they're a subcontinent team. They're going to throw a lot of spin overs at us. So that's something we need to address and we're also very well prepared for that. And I think, you know, they also have a well-balanced side with some strong hitters and some players that's just knocking it around and taking those ones and twos. So, I think it's going to be a well-balanced game and I think it's going to be, you know, a game for us that we really need to try and be at our best.

[Reporter]

Where are your parents?

[Sune]

Johannesburg, they've already checked in, had breakfast and just missed the boarding time.