BANGKOK: Malaysia’s women cricketers are switching fully into “competition mode” for their SEA Games T10 campaign.
Coach Davenell Frederick Whatmore praised the squad’s readiness after valuable acclimatisation under Thailand’s scorching conditions.
Whatmore said the team welcomed the opportunity to train in weather far hotter than what they experience at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur, adding that the session served as a crucial final adjustment ahead of Wednesday’s Group B opener.
“We’re very happy to have some useful practice in these conditions. It’s a little different to Bayuemas in KL, and it will do the girls the world of good,” he said.
The coach expressed satisfaction with the squad’s physical and mental condition, confirming that the team is entering the tournament injury-free and buoyed by a strong competitive build-up.
“They’re prepared — mentally and physically. And no injuries, thank goodness, touch wood,” he said.
“Our final preparation really has been the Hong Kong series, where we were tested. We won two out of four and felt we could have taken it 3-1, but that’s also good because it shows there’s still more to improve.”
Malaysia won three bronze medals at the Cambodia 2023 SEA Games, and expectations naturally turned toward whether the team is chasing a higher finish this time around.
Whatmore acknowledged the pressure but kept the focus on performance rather than predictions.
“There’s a lot of talk about outcomes. The girls know our objective — to be on the podium at the highest level possible,” he said.
“But they also understand that to achieve that, there are many things you must do along the way. We are working very hard toward that.”
Looking ahead at Group B — which includes Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar and Indonesia — Whatmore pointed out that world rankings offer a realistic picture of the competition.
“Thailand have some distance between the rest of us. Playing them in their home conditions will be a challenge, but that’s a good thing.
“If we can come out of it really well, our rankings are going to go up, and that’s one of our main objectives,” he said.
He added that while some may view a win over Thailand as an upset, the team remains confident in their growth and preparation.
“Some would say it’s an upset — some of the girls may not agree. But certainly, there is distance when you look at the ranking points. Most people would say Thailand are favourites,” he said.
Malaysia will now look to translate their preparations into results as they begin their push for a standout campaign in Bangkok.
