Luus ready to lead Proteas women as World Cup beckons: 'I'm still growing into it'

Sune Luus admits she still has a lot to learn from captaincy as she readies herself to lead the Proteas in the Women's T20 World Cup.

Newlands will host the much-anticipated opening World Cup encounter between South Africa and Sri Lanka on Friday evening.

Since Dane van Niekerk's 2021 ankle injury, Luus has taken over the captain's armband with some mixed success.

Luus has captained the Proteas in 28 T20s overall from 2019. However, since Van Niekerk's injury in 2021, the SA women have won 10 of 19 T20 matches under her leadership.

While it hasn't been ideal circumstances, the Proteas all-rounder admits she is eager to grow into her leadership role.

"I guess it's always difficult being a stand-in captain. You're always one foot in, one foot out," Luus told reporters at the pre-match conference at Newlands.

"But I grew up, I was always a leader at some stage in whatever team I played. Those leadership qualities came naturally to me, and I think it's a role I would really like to grow into. 

"I think every game you play; you get more accustomed to your teammates next to you and what they want and what they need. So, every game you play, you grow into that role. The older I get, the more I understand what needs to be done."

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Luus hopes to stamp her authority on the side as they face a tough Group A, which also includes New Zealand and defending champions Australia.

"I think it's just the reality. But at the moment, I'm an official captain, so I think it makes my job easier to take control and kind of stamp my authority on things and how I would like to go about things and how I would like to do things," said Luus.

"I think it comes with