FULL CONTRACTS: EP women cricketers Marizannem Kapp, left, and Dané van Niekerk are off to play in Australia’s T20 Big Bash next month Picture: EUGENE COETZEE
Duo heading for inaugural women’s tournament in Australia
TWO Eastern Province stars will join the best women cricketers from around the world for the first-ever season of the Women’s Big Bash League in Australia next month.
Proteas stalwarts Marizanne Kapp and Dané van Niekerk have been snapped up by the Sydney Sixers and Melbourne Renegades respectively, and will strut their stuff against the best exponents of the game.
They are the only two Proteas players to have been handed full contracts for the global event.
The competition will start on December 5 and run until January 24. It includes a frenetic schedule which will see 59 matches being played in 51 days.
The tournament will be aligned with the men’s T20 Big Bash League, which is now in its fifth season and also starts next month.
Eight teams will compete in the inaugural edition in an exciting new concept that is bound to increase the promotion and exposure of women’s cricket.
Both players are thrilled at the prospect of taking on the best.
“Obviously, in the women’s game it’s a very big achievement, because South Africa are not one of the strongest teams in women’s cricket,” Kapp said.
“For us, being chosen to represent South Africa there is a big honour and we are really looking forward to it.”
Van Niekerk explained how she had first been offered the deal.
“Marizanne got swept up a lot earlier than the other players. Sydney Sixers made sure they got her early,” the legspinner-batsman said.
“I was not really sure if I would make the cut because I thought the process was done.
“I had already forgotten about it [when] Melbourne Renegades contacted me via e-mail and offered me a contract.”
Van Niekerk, 22, captained the SA U19 team at the age of 16. She has since played 50 ODIs and 47 T20s for the Proteas.
She has a highest score of 90 not out in T20 internationals and a total of 790 runs at a strike rate of 81.61 runs per 100 balls. Her best bowling figures are 4/17.
The 25-year-old Kapp also has an impressive international career, having played 46 ODIs and 40 T20s. Her strike rate in the shortest form of the game is 94.39.
Kapp has won the coveted SA Women’s Cricketer of the Year award twice, in 2013 and last year, and has best bowling figures in T20 cricket of 4/6 as a seamer.
Asked whether there was much competition between the two, Kapp said: “We are different players. Dané is a more attacking batsman and legspin bowler, and I am a middle-order batsman and look to get players like Dané on strike. I’m also an opening bowler and a death bowler.”
Substantial cash retainers of between A$3 000 (R30 400) and A$10 000 (R100 000) will be earned by the players.
“The money is a bonus. For me it’s more about the experience of playing at the highest level. Yes, it’s still good money for us, but it’s about the cricket first and foremost,” Kapp said.
Both women play for Old Grey in the men’s Prospect League (second team sides), but they were a bit iffy when asked about setting their sights on playing in the NMB men’s Premier League.
“They [Old Grey] have asked a few times if we want to play for the premier league side. But I’m not too keen on that because you still get the boys who want to hurt me because I’m a girl,” Kapp said.
EP Cricket chief executive Jesse Chellan said the union was proud of the pair and was expecting big things down under.
“We are very proud of the ladies and with women’s cricket coming to the fore on the international arena, we are sure they will represent the country and Eastern Province with pride,” he said.
“We wish them all the best for the tournament and look forward to seeing their careers flourish.”
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