Proteas Women can learn from ‘Kappie’, says skipper Sune Luus

Proteas Women captain Sune Luus says the team need to learn as much as they can from experienced all-rounder Marizanne “Kappie” Kapp.

Kapp, 32, was one of the shining lights for the Proteas in their return to Test cricket for the first time since 2014. The Proteas’ one-off Test against England ended in a draw, thanks to persistent rain on the final two days of the match in Taunton.

Despite not having played the format in eight years, the South Africans were not found wanting on the field of play.

Kapp scored 150 runs in SA's first innings total of 284. England declared on 417/8 in their first innings.

The Proteas' second innings was interrupted by rain with SA on 181/5 and Kapp on 43 and Tumi Sekhukhune on 33.

Luus praised her team, and Kapp in particular, and the skipper believes there’s a lot that they can learn from the all-rounder about the game of cricket as a whole.

“She is a star. I think we laughed quite a bit because she said before the Test match that she wants to bat lower in the batting order because she doesn’t have a game plan in Test cricket,” Luus said.

“So, I don’t know where the 150 runs came from and the second innings. If that’s not a game plan, then I don’t know what it is.

“But she is a star of the team and she batted really well. I think we can all just go and sit with her and just talk about what she did and what worked for her, and take it forward and learn from her.

“We can also take this into white ball cricket because she battered quite phenomenally.”

The Proteas will now shift their focus to white ball cricket as they play three ODIs and three T20s against England.

The first 50-over meeting is on Monday, July 11 (3pm, SA time).

Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.