A versatile all-rounder, Annerie Dercksen has been a vital part of the South African national team since 2024. She began playing cricket informally with her family after realizing the sport’s potential for women.
Born in Beaufort West, she is renowned for her ability to maintain her cool under duress, her tactical acumen, and her capacity to score runs quickly and rebuild innings. She is regarded as an inspiration for young cricket players from unconventional backgrounds and was named the 2024 ICC Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year.
Dercksen is currently a part of the Proteas squad playing the tri-series in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Even though things haven’t gone South Africa’s way after losing both their games against India and Sri Lanka respectively, Dercksen is having a decent run in the ongoing series with the bat and ball.
Dercksen gives credits to her batting coach for putting all the hard yards onto which this innings was possible. She also mentions working hard to get runs on the board against Sri Lanka Women giving credits to their bowlers.
Dercksen recognizes the roles and responsibilities her batting position demands coming out at number seven. The game against India required Dercksen to play the finishing role and strike hard, whereas she says, “Today when I came to bat there was a bit more time left, so I think the goal was sort of to bat through the innings.
“Yeah, I’m pretty disappointed the end would have liked a couple more boundaries to push our score up. I thought we were about 20-30 maybe short. Disappointed with the ending but with different roles to different situations, I am really enjoying it at the moment.”
Dercksen is also fascinated by the talks going in the commentary box and around for her being the next strong candidate in the Women’s Premier League.
Dercksen says, “I’ve really heard a lot of good things about it. I would love to go; a couple of our teammates are there. Just amazing things, I think the coaching structure and the structure of the whole tournament is amazing. I think I’d give two of my frontiers to go play there but ya obviously knowing you gotta perform consistently and the teams want you so yeah whenever it happens, I think it will be cool.”
Dercksen was also asked for her first spell on Sri Lankan soil where she got Smriti Mandhana going. A total of eleven deliveries bowled in that over with a couple of wide deliveries. The only positive from the over was the break-through South Africa needed and got it in the form of Smriti. She talks about not getting the proper rhythm in bowling and would want to work on it in these few days before facing India again.
Dercksen talks about her relationship and inputs that she has been getting from Marizanne Kapp in terms of rhythm, line and length and head position. She is someone that Dercksen looks up to.
Talking about her ongoing success in international cricket Dercksen talks about how she does not have much time to focus on what she’s achieved so far but tries to invest more into getting better and better. She also credits her team members, coaches and staff for her success and is grateful for a stellar journey till now.
(Quotes sourced from ThePapare)
Loves all things female cricket