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Silence please! All discussions have ended, for the time being, and England’s World Cup is about to begin. On the downside, they start with a tough game with South Africa as their first rival. On the upside, they start with a tough game opposing the Proteas. A win in this match might boost England's confidence right away and justify the cautious confidence in their build-up discussions.

Pre-Tournament Momentum

An excellent win over Australia during their final preparatory match has heightened their belief, although the standout displays of Alice Capsey (88 not out) alongside Sarah Glenn (claiming 5/32) caused a small team-selection puzzle for Charlotte Edwards.

Edwards is known for her success, meaning there is little chance of the team having modest ambitions. But from a distance they find themselves in a somewhat uncommon situation where their tournament benchmark is quite obvious.

Competition Outlook

Falling short of the semis might come as a small upset, despite the improvement among the traditional also-rans. Making it to the championship match in front of the Aussies or Indians, the two clear favourites to claim the title, would be a serious achievement. Should England emerge victorious… no, let’s not go there. It’s far too soon for that sort of talk.

Today’s match begins at 10:30 AM British Summer Time.