Damien van den Berg

Damien van den Berg, born on the first day of the new millennium, is a name that has resonated through the cricketing corridors since his promising talent began to unfurl in the quiet suburbs of Cape Town. From afternoons spent in the nets under the sun’s unrelenting watch, Damien's rise to the professional circuit has been nothing short of meteoric. Nurtured in a cricket-loving family, his journey from the local parks to international stadiums is a testament to his dedication, skill, and an innate cricketing acumen.

His early years were characterised by his mischievous smile and a natural flair with the bat. Local matches would often see a young Damien dispatching bowlers with a finesse that seemed to come as second nature. His professional debut in the South African domestic circuit, around 2018, marked just the beginning of a career peppered with accolades. Known for his adaptable batting approach, Damien can accelerate the tempo when needed or grind out an innings under testing conditions. His flexibility and flair brought him into the national spotlight when he played a pivotal role in clinching the 2022 T20 Championship for his team, a performance that included a match-winning seventy-two not-out in the final.

The rivalry with the arch-nemesis, the Johannesburg Jaguars, has churned out unforgettable contests. Particularly, his gritty innings against them in the 2021 domestic final was hailed as a masterclass of patience and precision, etching Damien's name in the annals of great domestic comebacks. His ability to adapt—whether it involves crafting anchor roles or unleashing an explosive flurry towards the end—has been the hallmark of his batting style. Though primarily a batsman, Damien's versatile bowling skills, often regarded as a well-kept secret, have caught batsmen off-guard, turning matches in moments of need.

His on-field demeanour, reminiscent of past greats, exudes a calm that belies the fiercely competitive spirit within. Perhaps one of the most significant moments came when he guided the South African national team to victory against the highly favoured Australians in a critical match in 2023, deftly negotiating the opposition bowlers and shepherding his side home with his blend of aggression and intelligence.

Damien van den Berg is not just a batsman; he is a craftsman with a penchant for the dramatic, a young man whose bat speaks a language of its own, telling a tale of grit, grace, and indomitable spirit.

Batting Stats

Bowling Stats