Johannesburg, Feb 18: South African coach Noor Rhode believes that South Africa could be the ‘surprise package’ at the ICC Women’s World Cup.

Having easily won through its qualifying matches for the ICC Women’s World Cup in Stellenbosch last year, the coach now believes his side are ready to challenge some of the best players in the world next month.

“South Africa will be the surprise package at the World Cup as the opposition don’t know us, they don’t know our way of thinking and they don’t know how we want to play the game. We want to make use of that,” said Rhode.

“Although it is not ideal going into a World Cup with a team that hasn’t play much international cricket, we can use that too our advantage as our players haven’t played against the top countries in the world before and have no fear.”

The 15-player squad, which will be captained by new skipper Sunette Loubser, contains a mix of youth and experience, and Rhode believes that it will provide a balance that has been missing in previous South African sides.

“I am very confident with the squad that I have got. We have got some very good players around and we have some experience and some good youngsters,” said Rhode.

“We have just finished off our last provincial games in South Africa at the weekend and I have seen some very good cricket from them and I am very happy.”

Many observers were surprised in the change of captaincy in the build-up to the event, but Rhode believes that the change will allow Cri-Zelda Brits to concentrate on her batting, and utilise the skills of Loubser, South Africa’s leading off-spinner.

“Sunette brings a lot of energy and knowledge to the team and she is a people person, with good cricket skills, and it also gives us the opportunity to give Cri-Zelda the chance to focus on her batting as that is where we need her most,” he said.

“Cri-Zelda is one of our key players and one of the few people who can change a game in the space of four overs.”

Rhode also believes that all-rounder Alicia Smith, who took five wickets in the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier, with her medium pace bowling, also has the potential to be one of the stars of the event.

“My personal opinion is that Alicia Smith can become one of the top women’s cricketers in the world as she has the skill and the ability – she just needs to focus on the task in hand,” he said.

Earlier in the week, West Indian coach Sherwin Campbell spoke about the importance of the opening Group A match against South Africa, with the teams also facing Australia and New Zealand in the opening stage of the competition.

And Rhode agreed that the opening match will go a long way towards determining who will qualify for the Super Six stage of the competition and has therefore invested some time in doing some scouting work on the West Indian team.

“That is the most important game for us. We know that, we have spoken about it, and the players do understand that is the key to the World Cup for us. We are going to take it game by game but that is an important game for us,” said Rhode.

“The West Indies toured Holland just after us and then went to England and a few of my friends went to watch them. They also played a three-match series just after the World Cup in 2005 and I was fortunate to see a few of the players then, but I know a few of them have retired.”

With South Africa’s men playing a high profile series against Australia at the same time as the ICC Women’s World Cup, Rhode is also determined to capture the cricket fever within his home country and provide a long-term boost to the women’s game.

“Being involved in South African women’s cricket for the last ten years, I had the opportunity to be involved in the World Cup in New Zealand in 2000 and I think this one will be much bigger under the auspices of the ICC,” he said.

“For South Africa it will be a do or die performance and all the players are aware they need to give 120 per cent for the future of women’s cricket in South Africa.”

“To get more sponsors for the game, the players know that need to do well in the World Cup.”

Bureau Report