.svg){kind=small}
Marizanne Kapp, the teammate and wife of the former captain of the South Africa women’s cricket team confirms that Dane van Niekerk has decided to retire from international cricket. The decision was taken after the GG (Gujarat Giants) versus DC (Delhi Capitals) match in Mumbai at the WPL (Women’s Premier League).
Marizanne Kapp states while answering about Nierkerk’s retirement that sometimes she feels like she is the one who is going to retire. The thought itself is so heartbreaking. They have grown up together in the team and it was indeed difficult to hear that Niekerk has decided to hang her boots. She also added Niekerk seems to be in a better mental state and that is what matters in reality.
As per the selectors, the former captain could not qualify for the fitness test and was not included in the squad. The test included a 2km training run in eighteen seconds. Sune Luus instead led the South African team in the absence of Van Niekerk and took them to the Maiden World Cup final. However, the South African team lost the match to Australia.
In 2009, Dane van Niekerk made her international debut against the West Indies. Later, she played for South Africa in 107 ODIs, scoring 20175 runs and picking 138 wickets. She made 1877 runs in the T20Is at a strike rate of 94.94 and took 65 wickets in 86 games.
Niekerk took a hat trick in 2013 while playing against West Indies. It was in the same year that she made her first international half-century against Pakistan. Furthermore, in 2014, Niekerk made headlines for sharing the highest undefeated partnership in the history of women’s international T20.
By 2015, she made her position to be the most important player in the South African team. She took 129 international wickets and made 1899 international runs, this includes the Women’s World T20, in 2016. Van Kierk was the obvious and the perfect successor of Mignon du Preez, the long-standing women Proteas skipper. Niekerk said that it came as a ‘big shock’ when Mignon stepped down. Niekerk stated that she got her ‘lifelong dream’ of leading the team.
Niekerk added that Mignon was doing a remarkable job and the team was heading to places that it has never been before. She further stated ‘I hope I would do a really good job’. Niekerk also stated that she understood the particularities of the game and that the added pressure might have helped her to do better. She could thrive under the pressure. After becoming the captain, her batting average rose from 27.93 to 48.72 within the first five months.
After the 2017 World Cup, Niekerk said that ‘it was a massive World Cup for us’. She said that they got a lot of support and when they came home, people came up to them and admired the way they played. The compliment that the team received for their conduct on and off the field made Niekerk proud.
Besides being a right-handed batter, Dane van Niekerk is also a leg-break bowler. Her ability to turn the ball is noteworthy. She mentioned how she rose from schoolgirl to play softball to netball to making her debut for South Africa at the age of 16 to finally becoming the captain of the South African team showcasing her potential and consistency.
FAQs
What is the age of Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk?
The age of Marizanne Kapp is 33 years and the age of Dane van Niekerk is 30 years.
When did Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk get married?
South African all-rounders Dane van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp tied the knot in 2018. They became the second same-sex couple to marry after Lea Tahuhu and Satterthwaite.
When was Dane van Niekerk declared the captain of the South African team?
Dane van Niekerk was declared the captain of the South African team in 2016 at the age of 23.
