She's prepared to do whatever she can for the team - Wolvaardt on Van Niekerk's return

PROTEAS women's captain Laura Wolvaardt revealed the squad is excited to play at the picturesque Newlands in the first of three T20Is against Ireland Women today.

- ONGAMA GCWABE

Following their historic ICC Women's World Cup final in Navi Mumbai last month, Wolvaardt and Co have a completely different goal, as they host Ireland Women at home for a white-ball series that marks the start of the international summer.

The first of three T20Is between the two teams is set to get underway at 2pm at Newlands in Cape Town on Friday. The series will also mark the team's first preparation for next year's ICC Women's T20 World Cup in England and Wales.

“It’s crazy that it’s so soon. It feels like we've just come off a World Cup, and there’s another one in, like, a few months’ time,” Wolvaardt said, on Thursday.

“I think we’ve been playing some good cricket. That final hurdle is still in front of us. I think we’re doing a lot of things right to keep making those finals.”