Former South Africa captain Dane van Niekerk has been named in the squad to face Ireland next month, marking her first international appearance since 2021. The 32-year-old all-rounder retired in March 2023 after missing out on the T20 World Cup, only to reverse that decision in August.
Since then she has put together solid numbers for Western Province. She is currently third on the Pro50 run charts and fifth in the Pro20, form that proved hard to ignore when selectors met last week.
“Dané’s return is a result of her notable domestic form, where she has shown consistency and skill. We look forward to her contribution across both formats,” South Africa coach Mandla Mashimbyi said.
Selectors had already taken a look at her during a pre-World Cup training camp earlier this year but left her out of the final party. Rather than disappear, she turned up for every provincial match, batted in the middle order, bowled useful leg-spin and kept fielding standards high. It was a low-key reminder of what 107 ODIs and 86 T20Is worth of experience can bring.
The Proteas hope that experience will steady a young dressing-room and plug a spin-bowling gap left by Suné Luus’s recent break from the game. Whether van Niekerk is immediately at full tilt or needs time to shake off rust will become clear during the three ODIs and three T20Is against Ireland, starting in Paarl early in the New Year.
Full squads are due later this week. For now the headline is straightforward: one of South African cricket’s most recognisable figures is back, ready for another tilt at international honours.
