Warning: May contain offensive language below
Former captain Dane van Niekerk says she’s been left “broken” after being overlooked for South Africa’s squad for the Women’s T20 World Cup for failing to meet her team’s minimum fitness standards.
Ahead of her home tournament, one of the fitness tests requires women cricketers to run two kilometres in 9 mins 30. ESPN Cricinfo reported that Van Niekerk missed the target by 18 seconds.
As a result, the 29-year-old was overlooked for the tournament, which starts in Cape Town on February 10, according to chief selector Clinton du Preez.
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“Dane was given an extensive opportunity to meet the minimum criteria or the fitness benchmark,” he said.
“It’s purely based on the not meeting of the fitness criteria that she’s missed out.”
Cricket commentator Charles Dagnall was appalled at the decision to sideline Van Niekerk.
“They are half the side without Dane Van Niekerk. Why is that? Not only for her batting, bowling and cricketing skills, but her brain,” he said.
“I would equate her, if looking at the men’s game, that steel and determination to someone like Eoin Morgan. She knows what she’s doing out there. She is completely across anything. No situation flusters her.
“She’s got an answer for every equation, the players love her – they respect her, and that as a captain is an absolutely incredible facet to have.
“She’s one of the best thinkers in the world.
“She is such a big player for any side that she plays for.”
Van Niekerk, who was named one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year last year, has long been regarded as one of South Africa’s leading players as a top-order batter, leg-break bowler and respected captain.
She broke an ankle in an accident at home in November 2021 and has not played in international cricket since then, although she did feature in The Hundred in England last year.
South African cricketer Sisanda Magala has previously led criticism of the nation’s fitness test, which has a 2km pass mark of 8:30 for men, in a post on social media.
“When do you run a whole two kilometres consistently on a cricket field? You don’t”, he said.
“Your maximum sprint is probably when you are chasing a ball on the boundary.
“When they say you can’t play, you’re not only coming at my cricketing skills, you’re coming at something only part of cricket.”
Van Niekerk posted an Instagram picture soon after the team was announced with the caption, “Absolutely BROKEN.”
Leading all-rounder Marizanne Kapp, who is married to Van Niekerk and was selected for the World Cup, retweeted her wife’s post with the caption, “One of the best captains in world cricket.”
She continued in Afrikaans, “You will be missed.” Kapp added a heart emoji and another denoting a broken heart.
Van Niekerk missed selection for a triangular tournament involving India and West Indies earlier this month but it had been widely expected she would return for the World Cup.
While the tri-series was being played, Van Niekerk posted a picture of herself batting in the nets in East London, saying it had been “a tough few weeks” and thanking the people who were helping her regain fitness.
Reaction on social media was overwhelmingly in support of Van Niekerk. Fast bowling great Dale Steyn commented, “I missed my 2km time by seconds, must mean I’m s***”.
Sune Luus will captain the South African team at the World Cup.
-With AFP
