Dané van Niekerk: I felt like a child again

Van Niekerk reversed her retirement from international cricket in August this year after two years in the wilderness, and has been called-up by coach Mandla Mashimbyi for the first time since then. 

The former skipper – who was named CSA Women’s Cricketer of the Year in 2019 – says she never thought the day would come where she gets to don the green and gold again.

"You know if you asked me probably like six months ago if I would be here, I would probably say no, just because of everything that happened and obviously I spoke to Mandla before that,” van Nieker said. 

“I didn't think the day would come, so, obviously it means a lot, it means the world, that's what I said to the coach and Clinton [du Preez] the selector. I'm just excited, it's good to be back amongst the team, I got my claws again and I felt like it was my claws from the first time. 

“I got a new helmet as well, I was like a child but that's what it means for me to be here and hopefully I can really contribute to the team, in any shape, form that I can."

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Van Niekerk has not played for South Africa since September 2021 against the West Indies, and could be in the starting XI in the first T20 of the series this Friday at Newlands in Cape Town. 

She says all she wants is to prove a point to herself and no one else.

"It's scary to think that it's four years, I think it was in the West Indies, it feels like a lifetime ago. You know I was in and around the squad obviously 2022, 2023 but yeah, no games,” he added.

“The thing for me is, it's easy to say I wanna prove a point and show people that I'm still Dané van Niekerk or how people may wanna think but the main thing for me is to prove something to myself. 

“I think that's the main goal, just proving to myself and really tick those boxes that I wanna tick and I know if I tick those boxes personally I will contribute to the team, I guess hopefully in winning situations and that's what it's all about for me."