Dane van Niekerk returns to domestic cricket ahead of Women’s T20 World Cup

The timing could be odd, but Dane van Niekerk, one of the finest all-rounders in women's cricket, has returned to competitive cricket after announcing her retirement from International cricket back in March 2023. The 31-year-old has signed up with provincial side Western Province for Cricket South Africa (CSA)’s Provincial T20 competition for women. 

The former South Africa women's skipper said that she just wants to have fun at the moment and enjoy the game she loves. 

"My No.1 priority is to play again. I have no expectations other than that. What will be, will be,” said van Niekerk in a chat with ESPNCricinfo. 

Van Niekerk, who has represented South African women in international cricket in 107 ODIs, 86 T20Is and one Test, misses not playing at the highest level for her country. 

“I miss representing my country and playing at the highest level. It has nothing to do with anything other than that.”

The last time van Niekerk was seen on a cricket pitch was during The Hundred Women’s 2023. She also took part in the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League and the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy. However, in international cricket, she last featured in 2021. 

After failing to make the cut for South Africa’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2023 at home, Niekerk announced her retirement at the end of that tournament. Having scored 4074 international runs and taken 204 wickets in all formats combined, van Niekerk suffered with injuries a lot in the later stages of her career. 

A broken back and ankle were the main reasons van Niekerk couldn’t perform up to her potential and called it quits at the age of 29. Her inability to run 2 km in 9.30 seconds cost her a spot in the 2023 T20 World Cup squad. She missed the mark by 18 seconds. However, CSA have eliminated that selection policy, and now it is up to the coach’s discretion to select the team. 

Her partner, Marizanne Kapp, will play a key role as South African women look to go one better from the last edition of the T20 World Cup, where they finished runners-up. The Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 is scheduled to begin on October 3 in Bangladesh. 

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