South African National Team Archives - Living Our Sunshine with Susann Deysel

Cricket SA are in the unique position where, through their transformation programme, they have created a truly representative team with members as diverse as the nation it represents.

While they are all athletes, they have relatable interests like everyone else. Mignon du Preez has an honours degree in Marketing, four members of the team are studying at university, Masabata Klaas is mother to a five-year-old daughter, there are several coaches and Laura Wolvaardt writes music, plays piano, sings and is preparing for medical school next year.

As a school learner Dane’ van Niekerk played for Pretoria Northerns before becoming one of the first two South African females, along with Marizanne Kapp, to be included in the Eastern Province cricket team academy – a male team.

Kass Naidoo (Sports Presenter), Dane van Niekerk (Captain), Marizanne Kapp

Opening bowler Shabnim Ismail is ranked as one of the fastest women bowlers in the world. She can bowl at a record speed of 128 km per hour. She’s a really good soccer player and loves sports cars. She is currently driving a Ford Focus ST.

Tumi Sekhukhune is the small one in the squad and is nicknamed “shorty”. The petite powerhouse made her mark during the series against the West Indies. Tumi was born to be a sports star and before cricket she played provincial tennis.

Chloe Tryon is the entertainer on the team and a party doesn’t start until she has arrived! She has a tertiary qualification on Coaching science. She loves the beach and enjoys soccer, tennis and surfing.

If you want to know more about South Africa’s National Women’s Cricket Team, I have more!

Get all the info about when they play and who is in the World Cup team here
The video interviews you will want to watch

I am quite excited to watch cricket – and that is a first ever! I have only ever gone to one live cricket game and I will cast an eye while it is on TV, but I’m not a cricket pro or avid follower. However, now that I have met some of the players I feel invested in the game. I want the team to bring back that trophy, I want to see them get a big sponsor and I want to be able to talk cricket when they get back.

Yesterday I felt goosebumps at the official send-off at Cricket South Africa’s offices in Johannesburg. There was a sizable crowd lining the street, waiting for the team bus to arrive. Flags being waved, cheering and a team that didn’t expect to be greeted by supporters.

It was electric standing with the rest of the supporters – which was mostly made up of young women. Speaking to a few supporters it was evident that they were there to make sure that the team knows that they have people rooting for them; that they were proud of the team; and that even if they didn’t all understand the rules, they would be watching the team at the World Cup.

I want you to become as excited as I am about South African Women’s Cricket (and all other national women’s teams). Watch my video interviews with these professional sportswomen. Here is everything I know thusfar about the team and the tournament:

Who is in the South African Cricket Team?

NAME
Dane van Niekerk Captain, Batter BAT: Right Hand Batter BOWL: Leg Breaks 14/05/1993 Centurion (Gauteng)
Chloe Tryon Bowler BAT: Left Hand Batter BOWL: Left arm, Medium fast 25/01/1994 Scottburgh (KZN)
Ayabonga Khaka Bowler BAT: Right Hand Batter BOWL: Right Arm Medium Ranked 6^th ODI’s 18/07/1992 Middledrift, Eastern Cape
Sune Luus All Rounder BAT: Right Hand Batter BOWL: Leg Breaks 05/01/1996 Pinetown (KZN)
Laura Wolvaardt Batter BAT: Left Hand Batter BOWL: Right Arm Medium 26/04/1999 Milnerton, Cape Town (WC)
Shabnim Ismail All Rounder BAT: Left Hand Batter BOWL: Right Arm, Fast Medium 05/10/1988 Cape Town, WC
Masabata Klaas Batter BAT: Right Hand Batter BOWL: Right Arm Medium 03/02/1991 Botshabelo, Mpumalanga
Lizelle Lee Batter BAT: Right Hand Batter BOWL: Right Arm, Medium Fast Ranked 9^th ODI’s 02/04/1992 Ermelo, Mpumalanga

Full Team

Players: Dané van Niekerk (captain, Eastern Province), Chloe Tryon (KwaZulu-Natal Coastal) Lizelle Lee (North West), Suné Luus (Northerns), Shabnim Ismail (Gauteng), Masabata Klaas (North West), Mignon du Preez (Northerns), Marizanne Kapp (Eastern Province), Laura Wolvaardt (Western Province), Raisibe Ntozakhe (Gauteng), Zintle Mali (Border), Robyn Searle (Gauteng), Tumi Sekhukhune (Easterns) Saarah Smith (Western Province), Trisha Chetty (Gauteng).

The management team

Hilton Moreeng
Salieg Nackerdien
Sedibu Mohlaba
Abram Ramoadi
Russell Clarke
Molebatsi Theletsane
Sipokazi Sokanyile

Which other teams will be at the ICC Women’s World Twenty20?

Group A: West Indies, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh
Group B: Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Ireland

South Africa is playing on the following days:

12 November Sri Lanka v South Africa, St Lucia (d/n) (00:00 GMT, 13 Nov)
14 November West Indies v South Africa, St Lucia (d/n) (00:00 GMT, 15 Nov)
16 November England v South Africa, St Lucia (20:00 GMT)
18 November South Africa v Bangladesh, St Lucia (d/n) (00:00 GMT, 19 Nov)

When (not if) they make it through, these are the games that will take them to the trophy:

22 November First semi-final, Antigua (20:00 GMT)
22 November Second semi-final, Antigua (d/n) (00:00 GMT, 23 Nov)
24 November Final, Antigua (d/n) (00:00 GMT, 25 Nov)

NB Fixtures and start times are subject to change. As soon as I get SA times I will update.