Van Niekerk ‘given ample opportunity’ in fitness test

CRICKET South Africa have drawn a line in the sand and showed they are not going to relent for anyone after omitting former captain Dané van Niekerk from the Proteas squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on home soil.

The much-anticipated tournament gets under way at Newlands in Cape Town in 10 days’ time when the Proteas face Sri Lanka in the opening match.

Van Niekerk, who had led her country in 80 matches across formats, will not play any part in it, though, after failing to meet the fitness requirements.

Van Niekerk also missed the recent T20I Tri-series involving the West Indies and India for the same reason.

In fact, the 29-year-old allrounder has only played five one-day internationals and three T20Is – on the September 2021 tour of the West Indies – for the national team since the fateful semi-final against Australia in Sydney at the previous ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in

March 2020.

“Dané was given an extensive opportunity to meet the minimum criteria for the fitness benchmark,” Clinton du Preez, the Proteas Women selection convener, said yesterday.

“She recently did another fitness test and did not meet the minimum requirement for the 2km time trial.

“The management assisted her in trying to get there, but she did not meet the minimum requirement.”

The pass mark for the 2km time trial is understood to be nine minutes and 30 seconds.

Van Niekerk has endured a longstanding battle to be ready for the home T20 Women’s World Cup, particularly after missing last year’s 50-over World Cup in New Zealand due to a freak ankle injury.

Her rehabilitation has been intense, and she’s committed to a training regime to give herself the best possible opportunity to meet Cricket SA’s requirements.

Du Preez admitted it was “very unfortunate” that Van Niekerk was not part of the Proteas squad due to her “skill-set”, but that Cricket SA had to remain consistent in the implementation of their fitness standards.

“Dané has been an integral part of the team. She’s not been around the team for a while. She was replaced by Suné Luus as the leader. I think the skill set of Dané as a cricketer will always be missed on the cricket field,” said Du Preez.

“We’ve had this discussion with her … We’ve extensively reminded her of that, and also appreciated the hard work that she’s put in to try and get to the fitness level.

“The team has played for a while without her.

“I think there’s a lot of responsibility on the players and the current leadership to take this forward, and to ensure that they go out in the World Cup, represent and try and keep the team together.”

There was an outcry on social media yesterday due to Van Niekerk’s omission, with the player herself posting that she was “Absolutely BROKEN”.

Teammate and wife Marizanne Kapp expressed her feelings too, with a post stating: “One of the best captains in world cricket. Jy gaan gemis word! Die Here het groter planne (You will be missed. God has greater plans).”

With Kapp one of the senior players in the national team, the Proteas’ squad dynamic at the tournament will be closely monitored and leaves captain Luus with an almighty challenge to pull everyone in the same direction moving forward.

Du Preez has full confidence in Luus and the rest of the 14-player squad, though, to focus on the job at hand.

“The team is gelling nicely. I do believe the team has pulled together, has accepted the decision.

“There is a lot of responsibility on the players and the leadership to take this forward and try to keep the team together,” he concluded.