Dane van Niekerk on her way to the first hundred of her comeback with South Africa’s national cricket team. She made national news recently when she announced her choice to trump her retirement. The 32-year-old cricketer has been added to the Women’s Tackle Football Training Academy. He is certainly looking to the future — the next 50-over World Cup, due to start on September 30 in India. This advancement is a huge turnaround for Van Niekerk, who left from global responsibility in March of 2023.
Following her retirement, Van Niekerk struggled immensely. This has compounded with how she missed selection in the T20 World Cup squad earlier this year by not meeting fitness requirements. She came into the season battling a tough ankle injury that she suffered in early 2022. This injury blow has severely hampered her preparations ahead of the home World Cup in February 2023. It was a challenging transition, particularly as high school was an age where she literally just couldn’t meet the time cut for a 2km run.
Though these disappointments only spurred Van Niekerk on as she made waves in South Africa’s domestic cricket. Last winter, she finished as the fourth-highest scorer in South Africa’s domestic T20 competition. This accomplishment showcased her talent and focus on returning to her elite level.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has since relaxed its fitness test regulations, creating a potential pathway for Van Niekerk to re-enter international cricket.
“Time away has reminded me how much I have missed representing my country,” – Dane van Niekerk
In her emotional announcement about her retirement, Van Niekerk said she wished it hadn’t played out like that.
“I sincerely apologise to Cricket South Africa and the cricket family for how I handled my retirement, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to hopefully one day express my skills again on the international stage,” – Dane van Niekerk
Under Serena Wiegman, her international career got off to a highly promising start appearing in 194 matches before representing England for the final time this September 2021. She’s now pursuing a place on the World Cup roster. Especially with only 15 players allowed on the final team, and the cricketing world one her every flush wrist movement.
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