Explosive Proteas Women all-rounder Chloe Tryon says she’s happy batting at No 5 or 6 in the line-up ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup later this month.
Tryon spoke to Independent Media in an exclusive interview following her return to South Africa from the United Kingdom, where she had been playing in the short-format league, The Hundred.
While acknowledging that the team’s needs come first, Tryon said she is “comfortable” and “happy” batting in the middle order because there is still time for her to make an impact on the game.
The Durban-born cricketer is also a handy bowler, but feels her batting remains her strongest suit.
Tryon was named on Wednesday as one of the 15 squad members for the Proteas’ World Cup campaign, and will leave for Pakistan in less than a week to kick off a set of warm-up matches in Lahore.
Later in September, the team will travel to Sri Lanka, where they will play another World Cup warm-up fixture against Pakistan.
Tryon, Laura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp all missed out on the Proteas’ recent training camp ahead of the Pakistan matches due to their participation in The Hundred. But one could argue that playing against and alongside some of the world’s best – including players from India and Australia – provided even more valuable match preparation.
“I’m okay with where I am right now at five or six. I think in the 50-over format that becomes a really big role because you come in at a stage where you either have like 15 or 10 overs left to bat. I still want to make an impact whenever I come in.
“I don’t have a preferred place to bat, but I’m pretty happy being around five or six. I think the timing when I come in and me having time to make an impact on the game is kind of where my head is at — whether it’s coming in when only 20 overs have been bowled, or later on when I still need to make an impact.
“I’m pretty comfortable wherever the coach needs me. I want to play my role as much as I can, which is making runs for the team — whether we are chasing or putting on a score. I feel like I want to impact the game and take a score from 240 to 280,” said Tryon.
