CRICKET NEWS - Building on the momentum of previous SA20 u.19 Women's camps, the second instalment of the SA u.19 Women's national training camp took place at the CSA Centre of Excellence in Tshwane from 25 to 28 April.

This four-day camp continues the collaborative efforts between Cricket South Africa (CSA) and SA20 to nurture emerging talent ahead of the ICC u.19 Women's T20 World Cup 2027.

The 24-player squad features a blend of emerging talent within the u.19 age group, including Jezé Campher, of the Garden Route Badgers. 

Jezé, a learner of Bridgton Secondary School in Oudtshoorn, won the award as all-rounder and batter of the tournament at the 2024 CSA Girls' u.16 National Tournament that was hosted in Johannesburg.

SA u.19 Women's head coach Dinesha Devnarain said, much like for the first camp, the players selected for the second u.19 national camp were identified based on strong performances during the national weeks.

"This was the second group from an initial pool of 50 players, and it's exciting to bring together another talented batch to see how they compete and showcase their abilities," she said. 

"We're looking for vibrant players who can support our brand, and ultimately, we're searching for those with the potential to lift a World Cup trophy for South Africa in the u.19 space. 

"We'll introduce our fitness standards and offer the girls exposure to inspiring voices. This time, Stephen Cook of SA20 will be addressing the group about supporting the u.19 programme."

Devnarain said they place a strong emphasis on game time.

 There will be matches throughout the weekend and possibly a net session to observe how the players train and translate those efforts into match performances. "We'll wrap up the camp with a debrief to reflect on what we've seen."

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