Following a rift with Cricket South Africa (CSA) due to unmet fitness standards, seasoned players Lizelle Lee (31) and Dane van Niekerk (30) announced their retirements from international cricket. CSA’s move towards a more lenient position on fitness requirements opens up the possibility of the veteran duo making a return to the senior national set-up.
In 2022, during South Africa’s tour of England for a multi-format series, Lizelle Lee unexpectedly declared her retirement from international cricket midway through the series. Her decision was shrouded in ambiguity initially and gained clarity when she later appeared on BCC’s Stumped Podcast. During the conversation, Lee discussed the circumstances surrounding her retirement, shedding light on her failure to meet CSA’s fitness standards (weight), and also alleged that the CSA threatened her of withholding a No Objection Certificate (NOC), denying her participation in The Hundred.
Former captain Dane van Niekerk’s retirement story mirrors that of her colleague Lizelle Lee. Van Niekerk was out of action for over a year due to an ankle injury sustained before the 2022 Women’s World Cup. After her recovery, she set her sights on a return for the 2023 home Twenty20 (T20) World Cup. However, her hopes were dashed when she fell short of the required fitness standard. Specifically, she missed the two-kilometer time trial benchmark of 9:30 by just 18 seconds, resulting in her omission from the squad. CSA’s decision to exclude Van Niekerk from the home World Cup, citing an 18-second shortfall, left her “absolutely broken” and decided to call it time.
Following these episodes, CSA has adopted a more flexible stance on fitness criteria. Athletes who fall short of the set two-kilometer run time or exceed recommended skinfold measurements will now be eligible for selection to the national team, given the head coach’s approval. Nonetheless, CSA has conveyed in a document to players that it “strongly recommends” that individuals not meeting the minimum fitness requirement refrain from participating in official matches.
Updated Rule
For the upcoming 2023-24 season, the “fit-to-play” criteria for both national men’s and women’s cricket teams will remain the same. Women players are required to complete a two-kilometer run within 9:30 minutes while maintaining a skinfold measurement of 100mm or less. While domestic players will have a slightly more lenient standard, with a two-kilometer run completion time of 10:15 minutes or less and a maximum skinfold measurement of 120mm.
Dane van Niekerk’s commendable service to South African cricket spanned more than a decade, leaving a lasting impact on women’s cricket and sports in the country. In 194 appearances across formats, Van Niekerk amassed an impressive tally of 4074 runs and scalped 204 wickets. Similarly, Lizelle Lee’s remarkable contribution to the advancement of women’s cricket in South Africa is undeniable. Her impactful presence across 184 matches saw her finish with 5253 international runs.
Since retiring, both Dane van Niekerk and Lizelle Lee have actively played in franchise cricket around the globe. With two upcoming World Cups, there’s a strong chance that the two superstars might want to come out of retirement, to represent South Africa, aiming to secure an ICC Trophy. Despite their semifinal exits in the 2017 and 2022 50-over World Cups and the 2020 T20 World Cup, the team’s runner-up finish in the 2023 home T20 World Cup indicates a promising trajectory and the involvement of Lee and Van Niekerk could greatly bolster the team’s pursuit of success.