South Africa’s Women’s team has suffered a massive blow just 50 days prior to the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup as captain Dané van Niekerk has been ruled out for at least three months due to an injury. While announcing the squad for a Momentum Proteas training camp ahead of their series against West Indies, Cricket South Africa confirmed that Dané van Niekerk sustained a left ankle fracture last week which has led to her unfortunate exclusion from the Proteas squad for the home series against West Indies and the World Cup in March.
As per a report posted by the board on their official website (cricket.co.za), the team’s doctor Tshegofatso Gaetsewe commented on the all-rounder’s injury, saying,
“The injury is a result of an accidental slip on a wet surface at home.
“As things stand, she doesn’t require surgery but will be monitored closely. It’s a stable fracture with minimal displacement and her recovery timeline is no less than 12 weeks,”
The Convenor of Selectors, Clinton du Preez rightly mentioned in the same report that Niekerk’s absence is a huge blow for the side that played some exceptional cricket last year and her leadership and all-around cricket abilities. Having said that, the 21-member squad that enters a bio-secure environment (BSE) tomorrow, consists of some top names including the 2021 leading ODI run-scorer Lizelle Lee, all-rounder Marizanne Kapp, the team’s leading wicket-taker last year Shabnim Ismail, and many others.
HEART-BREAKING 💔
Wish you a speedy recovery @Danevn811 pic.twitter.com/Y2F5U67itj
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) January 13, 2022
The Proteas are scheduled to host West Indies in Johannesburg for a four-match ODI series which would help both the teams prepare for the big tournament in New Zealand. In a revised schedule released by Cricket South Africa, the series which would take place at the Imperial Wanderers Stadium begins with a warm-up match on January 25 and ends on February 6.
Momentum Proteas squad for Training Camp
Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Trisha Chetty, Nadine de Klerk, Mignon du Preez, Lara Goodall, Shabnim Ismail, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Lizelle Lee, Sune Luus, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Raisibe Ntozakhe, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, Andrie Steyn, Chloe Tryon, Delmari Tucker, Laura Wolvaardt
Schedule for South Africa Women’s tour of West Indies
| Match | Date | Venue |
| Warm-Up | Tuesday, January 25 | Imperial Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg |
| 1st ODI (D/N) | Friday, January 28 | Imperial Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg |
| 2nd ODI | Monday, January 31 | Imperial Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg |
| 3rd ODI (D/N) | Thursday, February 3 | Imperial Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg |
| 4th ODI | Sunday, February 6 | Imperial Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg |
Meanwhile, Cricket West Indies also announced its 23-member squad last Saturday for a medical and fitness camp before traveling to South Africa.
Author of the poetry book ‘The Scent of Rhythm’, I am a passionate writer and a Sports enthusiast who writes on Cricket and plays Badminton.