The South African women’s national cricket team is looking to new head coach Mandla Mashimbyi to guide them to World Cup glory. The T20 World Cup finalists of the past two years need a fresh approach to unlock their potential, and Mashimbyi believes he can get the job done.

Contracted until April 2027, Mashimbyi intends to strengthen the team culture and get players to appreciate every aspect of the game of cricket.

Mandla Mashimbyi is the coach tasked with getting the Proteas Women to the promised land. Two World Cup finals in two years clearly demonstrates the team’s pedigree.

Mashimbyi must now unlock that something extra to get across the line and win a World Cup.

“We need to understand what it takes to be a real professional. We need to add to the professionalism in terms of the sacrifices that you make, how we treat one another, how we speak to one another, how we see one another because it makes it easy for us to fight for one another when the chips are down when the pressure is on. It is for the players to realise that for me what is important is the things that we do before we go and play games because there, we are just going to showcase what we can but before that we put in the hard work,” says Mashimbyi.

Cricket South Africa handpicked Mashimbyi to replace Hilton Moreeng, who had been at the helm for some 10 years.

Enoch Nkwe, the Director of National teams, believes this was necessary to get to the next level for the Proteas.

“It was difficult for players, obviously let go and move into a new world a new space a new chapter but we worked hard behind the scenes with the players and we believe now they have actually got to a point where they are ready for the new chapter and they are very excited and all they want they just want to win games for South Africa and obviously win the World Cup.”

Mashimbyi is a cricketing purist who believes the key to the evolution of the Proteas is to play more red-ball cricket. He maintains, that is where players learn the most about themselves.

“I think red ball cricket will be key for women’s cricket. I think we kind of like can fast-track the player pool or player pipeline with red ball cricket because what it does it actually teaches you the game in every possible way.”

Mashimbyi will join the Proteas Women in Kimberley ahead of their first One Day International against England on Wednesday.

He says the job right now is to shadow the team and plan how he can unlock that extra 10 percent in terms of performance and intensity.

Video: Cricket – Mashimbyi’s masterplan to guide Proteas Women to World Cup success