The Proteas all-rounder Marizanne Kapp, who has been a cornerstone of South Africa’s women’s cricket team since 2009, excelling in both T20Is and ODIs, faced significant challenges earlier this year when she nearly retired. However, Kapp’s decision to stay has paid off, as she continues to shine with both bat and ball, ranking as one of South Africa’s top performers.
Since the start of 2024, Kapp has been in exceptional form for South Africa, proving herself to be a key player in both T20Is and ODIs. In 9 T20Is this year, she has scored 295 runs, just behind Laura Wolvaardt’s 311, and has also taken 4 wickets. In ODIs, her impact has been even more significant, amassing 389 runs in 9 matches, including a brilliant 114 against India, while also contributing with 4 wickets. Despite these impressive stats, the journey hasn’t been entirely smooth for Kapp. Earlier this year, she almost made the difficult decision to retire from international cricket, but was convinced to reconsider. Now, Kapp is thankful she didn’t follow through with her decision, feeling she is playing some of the best cricket of her career.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) Director of Cricket, Enoch Nkwe, was one of the key figures who urged Kapp not to rush into retirement. Together, they assessed her workload, and Kapp has since committed to representing South Africa for the foreseeable future, including in the upcoming T20I and ODI World Cups within the next 12 months. Nkwe’s faith in her abilities has proven well-founded, as Kapp has emerged as the second-highest run-scorer for South Africa in both formats this year.
Kapp’s resilience comes at a time when South African women’s cricket is undergoing a period of transition. Her wife and former South African captain, Dane van Niekerk, along with explosive wicketkeeper-batter Lizelle Lee and legendary fast bowler Shabnim Ismail, have all retired from international cricket. Their departures have left significant gaps in the team, and South Africa is still searching for suitable replacements. Reflecting on this, Kapp admitted, “The players that retired left a massive hole in the team, and it’s going to take quite a while to try and fill their boots. I mean, it wasn’t your everyday players that retired. It was big names, people that played very important roles, so it will definitely take time for us to be at our best again.”
Kapp also recognized the importance of allowing younger players to step up and seize their opportunities. “There’s definitely places up for grabs within the South African team, and now we just have to give some of the youngsters a chance as well,” she added.
Currently, apart from Kapp, there are only three other experienced players in the squad: all-rounder Chloe Tryon, captain Laura Wolvaardt, and top-order batter Sune Luus. The rest of the team consists of younger, less experienced players, making Kapp’s role as a senior figure even more critical. However, retirement is not on her mind. She believes she still has much more to contribute to both the Proteas Women’s team and the broader world of women’s cricket.
“I’ve actually been feeling really good. Yes, I know I’m 34 years old, but I feel like I’m playing my best cricket at the moment, and I’m learning something new about myself every single game I step out on the park to play,” Kapp said, highlighting her ongoing growth as a player. “I’m enjoying my cricket, and I’ve always been someone who looks after my body from a very young age. So, even though I’m 34 on paper, I feel like I’ve got a few more years in me. As long as I’m contributing and performing, I will play for as long as possible.”
Kapp’s physical condition, however, has not been without challenges. Over the past three years, she has experienced recurring back issues, something common among seam bowlers who endure long bowling spells. Her role as a top-order batter adds further strain, requiring her to bat for extended periods after a taxing bowling stint. On South Africa’s recent tour of India, she managed her workload carefully, bowling just two overs across a series that included one Test, three ODIs, and three T20Is. “For the past three years, I’ve really been struggling with my back. We’ve tried every single angle to try and get my back better. It looks like we’ve finally reached that,” Kapp shared, expressing optimism about her recovery.
Her love for bowling remains undiminished, and Kapp affirmed her commitment to both aspects of her all-round game. “I enjoy my bowling, and I feel like as an all-rounder, you never feel complete if you don’t do both skills, so I will definitely be bowling at the World Cup,” she stated.
As Kapp prepares for the upcoming 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, the stage is set for more action. Initially scheduled to be held in Bangladesh, the tournament has been relocated to the United Arab Emirates due to political unrest in the original host nation. From October 3rd to 23rd, ten teams will compete in 23 matches across two venues—the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and the Sharjah Cricket Stadium—battling for the top prize in T20 cricket. South Africa has been placed in Group B, alongside England, Bangladesh, West Indies, and Scotland. They will kick off their campaign on October 4th with a clash against the West Indies.
(Quotes sourced from SportsBoom)