Renowned Momentum Proteas all-rounder, Dané van Niekerk has announced her retirement from all forms of international cricket, after a 14-year career.
Cricket South Africa said in a statement on Thursday that the 29-year-old had enjoyed an illustrious international career, representing her country on 194 occasions, including 107 One-Day Internationals (ODI), 86 T20 Internationals, and a single Test match against India in 2014.
Van Niekerk began her career in March 2009, and eventually recording 2 175 runs in ODI cricket, with nine half-centuries and a career-best score of 102 against Sri Lanka, while amassing a further 1 877 runs in T20 cricket, notching up 10 fifties.
With the ball, the leg-spinner bagged 204 international wickets, “including recording-breaking figures of four for zero during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2017 against the West Indies in Leicester, England.”
Van Niekerk also led South Africa as one of the best and most-capped captains in the country’s history, with 50 ODI encounters, and 29 victories between 2016 and her last international appearance in September 2021.
Van Niekerk said it was with “great sadness” that she announced her retirement from international cricket.
“It has been the greatest honour to lead and represent my country. I am incredibly blessed to have led the team through its transformative years. There is no doubt that the women’s game is in an exciting space and looking forward to seeing this beautiful game that I love, grow.”
CSA Director of Cricket Enoch Nkwe paid tribute to Van Niekerk, saying that “her world-class cricketing ability and exceptional leadership skills are irrefutable and will surely be missed by her teammates, coaches, and all South African fans who have followed her journey over the last 14 years.”
“We wish Dané all the very best ahead of the next chapter in her career,” he added.
