Proteas skipper calls on Cricket SA, government to drive women's development

Proteas captain Sune Luus has challenged Cricket South Africa (CSA) and government to further invest in women's cricket development following her side's superb showing at the T20 World Cup.

The Proteas, the first South African cricket side to compete in a senior World Cup final, lost to Australia in Sunday's tournament decider at Newlands.

It was Australia's seventh straight appearance in a T20 World Cup final and their sixth title overall as Meg Lanning and her charges solidified their status as the greatest women's cricket side of all time.

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The Proteas could hold their heads high when one considers the gap in professionalism between the South African and Australian women's set-up.

While CSA has made significant strides in recent years with national contracts awarded to the country's top women players, there is still a long way to go.

Australian cricket, for example, has a functioning domestic and provincial women's set-up, while the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) has also added serious depth.

From top to bottom, the Australian women's cricket structure has benefitted from funding, planning and a thriving club system that feeds into the domestic set-up.

In South Africa, meanwhile, there are challenges at both school and club levels, and Luus says the time has come for CSA and government to do all they can to open up that pipeline and get women's cricket played.

"I hope so," said Luus when asked if that responsibility was now firmly at the door of CSA.

"We've done our best to give the girls in the country the best possible chance. Obviously, we would have liked to win [the final], but I don't think we could have given it a better shot.

"I think it's up