Our Women’s World Cup countdown continues, and this week we focus on South Africa. Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma are joined by all-rounder Annerie Dercksen who tells us about how she went from growing up on a farm and learning about cricket in the newspapers to being voted the ICC women’s emerging cricketer of the year 2024. She also shares what it was like having Dane Van Niekerk as part of their training camp and how the team has been inspired by the Proteas winning the World Test Championship earlier this year.

We reflect on The Hundred final and debate whether Australian Adam Zampa should have made the 34,000 kilometre round trip to bowl 20 balls for the Oval Invincibles. Plus, with rumours and ‘retirements’ surrounding both the England and Australia teams ahead of the Ashes, we look at which team is faring better.

Photo: Annerie Dercksen of South Africa celebrates with teammate Anneke Bosch after Brooke Halliday of New Zealand (obscured) is caught out during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Final 2024 match between South Africa and New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium on October 20, 2024 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)