Dané Van Niekerk is a South African cricketer. She is a right-handed batter and leg-break bowler and was the first South African woman to take 100 wickets in WODI. She was the captain of the South Africa Women’s team (Test, ODI, and T20) between 2016 and 2021.
Wiki/Biography
Dane van Niekerk was born on Friday, 14 May 1993 (age 30 years; as of 2023) in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. Her zodiac sign is Taurus. She completed her schooling at Hoërskool Centurion (Centurion High School), Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa. She then pursued a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) degree at the University of South Africa (Unisa), Pretoria, South Africa. Dane played junior cricket with the boys’ team in her primary school and it was in high school that she first played in an all-female team. She played softball, hockey, and netball before she became a professional cricketer.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 4″
Weight (approx.): 60 kg
Hair Colour: Light Brown
Eye Colour: Brown
Body Measurements (approx.): 34-28-34
Tattoos
- Right hand: Nothing is impossible with God
- She has also inked on her left hand.
Family
Parents & Siblings
Her father’s name is Peter van Niekerk. Her mother’s name is not known. Her brother’s name is Gerrit Van Niekerk.
Dane van Niekerk with her father
Dane van Niekerk with her family
Wife/Partner
On 6 July 2018, Dane van Niekerk got married to Marizanne Kapp. She and Kapp made their South African women’s national team debut within two days of each other during the 2009 Women’s World Cup; Dane made her debut on 8 March at the age of sixteen against the West Indies Women’s team and Kapp’s debut was on 10 March against the Australia Women’s team.
Dane van Niekerk with her wife
Sexual Orientation
She is a Lesbian. In an interview, she revealed that when she came out as a lesbian, her family was initially upset with her and it took some time before they supported her.
Religion
She follows Christianity.
Signature
Dane van Niekerk’s signature
Cricket
Domestic
Dane van Niekerk has represented the Northerns Under-19s Women, Highveld Women, South Africa Under-19 Women, Northerns Women, South Africa Emerging Players Women, North of South Africa Women, Eastern Province Women, Coronation, and South Western Districts Women at the domestic level. Dane became a professional cricketer at the age of fifteen; she played for the Northerns Under-19 team and Highveld Women in the domestic league. Her stellar performances in the domestic league helped her to become part of South Africa Under-19 Women; she became a key player for them and was named captain at the age of sixteen. She was selected to play for the Eastern Province cricket academy and became the first-ever South African female cricketer to be inducted into the men’s team. She led the Coronations team in the 2019-2020 Women’s T20 Super League and finished the tournament as the top-scorer with 146 runs. She was part of the Devnarain XI that won the 2019 Women’s T20 Super League. Ahead of the 2022-2023 Women’s T20 Super League, she was signed by the Starlights team and led them in the tournament. On 04 February 2023, she scored 12 runs from 15 balls for the South Western Districts Women in the CSA Women’s Provincial League.
International
One Day International (ODI)
On 8 March 2009, at 16 years of age, Dane van Niekerk made her ODI debut for the South Africa Women’s team (Proteas Women) against the West Indies Women during the 2009 Women’s Cricket World Cup held in Australia; she took one wicket from seven overs at an economy of 3.42. She was named to the starting eleven of the South Africa Women’s team for the seventh-place playoff match against the Sri Lanka Women and was named the Player of the Match; she bowled eight overs at an economy of 1.37 and took three wickets. Dane was part of the Proteas Women’s squad for the 2010 ICC Women’s Cricket Challenge held in South Africa. On 6 October 2010, she took four wickets against Sri Lanka Women from seven overs. She finished the tournament with nine wickets from four matches. In January 2013, she became the first South African woman to register an international hat trick; she took two more wickets and finished the match against the West Indies with five wickets. Dane was part of the South Africa Women’s team for the 2013 Women’s Cricket World Cup held in India; on 5 February 2013, she scored her first half-century (55 not out) against the Pakistan Women during their group stage match. She finished the tournament with 174 runs from seven matches and also took eight wickets including a four-wicket haul against the Sri Lanka Women on 13 February 2013. She was part of the South Africa women’s cricket team for the One Day International (ODI) series against Pakistan Women held in the UAE; the matches were part of the ICC Women’s Championship (2014-2016). In January 2014, she became the first South African woman player to achieve two five-wicket hauls in ODI cricket; Niekerk took her second five-wicket haul against the Pakistan Women. In June 2016, Mignon du Preez stepped down as the captain of the South Africa Women’s team; Cricket South Africa chose Dane van Niekerk as her replacement and was made captain in all the formats. She took 17 wickets and scored 460 runs from 21 matches during the inaugural edition of the ICC Women’s Championship (2014-2016).
When they’re told to hold still for a team photo. 😂#ProteasWomen #AlwaysRising #wwc17 pic.twitter.com/H4VqCT0Bch
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) July 17, 2017
On 15 February 2017, she became the seventh player to reach 1000 runs and 100 wickets in the Women’s ODI and the first-ever South Africa Woman to take 100 ODI wickets; she reached the milestone against the India Women during the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier. The 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup was Dane’s first major tournament as captain of her national team; she finished the tournament as the leading wicket-taker with 15 wickets. On 2 July 2017, she made history by becoming the first bowler (male or female) in international cricket to take four wickets without conceding a run.
#OnThisDay in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017, South Africa skipper Dane van Niekerk became the first bowler to take four wickets in an international match without conceding a run 🤯 pic.twitter.com/FkakLDpXQ7
— ICC (@ICC) July 2, 2020
Following her stellar performances with the South Africa women’s cricket team, she was selected by the ICC for the 2017 ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year. On 11 February 2019, she scored her maiden century against Sri Lanka Women during their tour of South Africa; she scored 102 runs from 117 balls and took two wickets from ten overs and was named Player of the Match. She also became the fourth South African woman cricketer to score 2,000 runs in the ODI format. South Africa Women faced India Women in the final of the 2017-2020 ICC Women’s Championship and her team lost by one wicket. Dane scored 596 runs from 13 matches between 2018 and 2020 and was the top-scorer for her team in the 2017-2020 ICC Women’s Championship. She was part of the South Africa Women’s team for the 2021 tour of the West Indies; she scored 38 runs and took two wickets in three matches; she played her final international ODI match against the West Indies Women on 19 September 2021 at North Sound. She suffered an injury a month before the 2022 ICC World Cup and missed the tournament.
T20
She made her international T20 debut against the West Indies Women at Taunton on 11 June 2009; she scored 8 runs and took two wickets in the match. She was part of the South Africa Women’s team at the Women’s World T20 in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016. On 23 March 2014, she scored her highest individual score of 90 and not out against Pakistan Women at Sylhet during the 2014 ICC World Twenty20. On 26 October 2014, during the South Africa Women’s tour of Sri Lanka, she scored 70 and not out and was named Player of the Match. She scored 52 runs against England Women, during their tour of South Africa on 18 February 2016. Dane scored 55 against the India Women during their tour of South Africa. During the 2018 England Tri-Nation T20 Women’s Series, she scored 72 runs from 51 balls against England Women. She was named the Player of the Match in the first T20 match of the series during the 2019 Sri Lanka Women’s tour of South Africa; she scored 71 not out and took three wickets by giving 12 runs. On 4 September 2021, she played her final T20 match during the South Africa Women’s tour of the West Indies; she took two wickets at an economy of 2.82 and was dismissed on a duck. In 2022, she suffered an injury on a rainy day when she went to feed her dogs and broke her ankle. She was sidelined for a long time; following her recovery she planned to be a part of the national team for the 2023 ICC World T20. However, she failed the fitness test and was axed by the selection committee and shortly she announced her retirement from all formats of international cricket.
Test
In November 2014, she made her international Test debut for the South Africa Women’s team against India Women at Mysore during the South Africa Women’s tour of India. She took the wicket of Punam Raut and scored 22 runs from two innings and this was her only international Test match. On 16 March 2023, she announced her retirement from all formats of international cricket.
#MomentumProteas all-rounder, Dané van Niekerk has confirmed her official retirement from all forms of international cricket after a career that spanned more than 14 years 🏏
Thank you @Danevn811 for everything you have done and achieved🙏 #AlwayRising pic.twitter.com/1AJeHzRNgr
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) March 16, 2023
Kia Super League
She was part of the Loughborough Lightning team for the inaugural season (2016) of the Kia Super League. She scored 126 runs and took 7 wickets from six matches. She was signed by Surrey Stars ahead of the second season and finished the 2018 season of the Kia Super League as the fifth-highest wicket-taker with 13 wickets from nine matches; Surrey Stars defeated Loughborough Lightning in the final. Dane took 12 wickets from 8 matches during the 2019 season of the Super League.
Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL)
She was signed as one of the overseas marquees by the Melbourne Renegades Women for the inaugural season of the Women’s Big Bash League (2015/2016). On 12 December 2015, she scored 45 runs from 44 balls against Hobart Hurricanes. She scored her first half-century (52) against the Perth Scorchers on 16 January 2016. Dane joined the Sydney Sixers Women ahead of the second season of the WBBL and played for them for the next five seasons.
She won her first WBBL title with the Sydney Sixers in her first season and successfully defended the title in the third season of the WBBL. In 2021, she announced that she was leaving at the end of the 2020-2021 season and that she was joining Adelaide Strikers Women for the 2021-2022 season; she scored 356 runs from 17 matches and took four wickets.
Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL)
In August 2017, ACT Meteors announced the signing of Dane van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp for the 2017-2018 season of the Women’s National Cricket League. She played in two matches, scored 124 runs and took five wickets.
The Hundred
In 2021, she was signed by Oval Invincibles for the inaugural season of The Hundred and it was announced that Dane was their captain. On 21 July 2021, she debuted for Oval Invincibles in the 2021 season of The Hundred against the Manchester Originals Women; she scored 56 runs (not out) from 42 balls and was named Player of the Match.
The first-ever win goes to Oval Invincibles! 🙌
What a moment! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/6u4hauRUD3
— The Hundred (@thehundred) July 21, 2021
She took a three-wicket haul against the London Spirit in their second group match from 20 balls. Oval Invincibles defeated Southern Brave in the final of the tournament and became the first-ever champions of The Hundred; Dane van Niekerk finished the tournament as the top scorer with 259 runs from nine matches. Dane did not feature in any competitive matches after the 2021-2022 season of the Women’s Big Bash League; in early 2022, she suffered an ankle fracture and was ruled out for the 2022 Women’s ODI World Cup held in New Zealand and the Commonwealth Games. The Oval Invincibles management preferred New Zealand batter Suzie Bates over Dane; Dane lacked match fitness. Dane’s partner and compatriot, Marizanne Kapp, criticised how the management handled things and pointed out that Dane was not given a chance to prove herself. Dane played three matches in the 2022 season of The Hundred and Oval Invincibles retained their title by defeating Southern Brave in the final. On 23 March 2023, she was signed by the Oval Invincibles for the 2023 season of The Hundred; she was the eighth pick during the third round of the draft.
Women’s Premier League (WPL)
In 2023, she was signed by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for the inaugural season of the Women’s Premier League; they signed her for the base price of Rs. 30 Lakhs. However, she did not feature in any of the matches of the 2023 season of the WPL.
😇 Nothing to see here, just two married working women, Dane van Niekerk (#RCB) and Marizanne Kapp (#DC), catching up after their match on Sunday evening 🫶🏻#CheerTheW #TATAWPL pic.twitter.com/yayQanmFXf
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) March 5, 2023
Records
- She is the first South African woman bowler to take 100 wickets in ODI.
- She is the first South African woman bowler to take a hat-trick in international cricket.
- She was among the top three players with the fewest number of ducks in the WODI.
- Dane is the first-ever bowler to take four wickets in international cricket without conceding a single run.
- She was the MVP (Women) in the first-ever season of The Hundred.
- Dane scored the first half-century in The Hundred.
Controversies
Free Pass into the World Cup Final
In 2020, South Africa Women’s team failed to reach the Women’s T20 World Cup final; they lost to Australia Women on the ruling of the Duckworth Lewis Method. Dane van Niekerk who was the South African skipper during her post-match press conference said that ‘they would rather lose than get a free pass to the final.’
Dane van Niekerk: “I’d rather lose than get a free pass into the World Cup Final” 👏 #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/lVHfirT2As
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 5, 2020
Her comments irked the Indian cricket fans who alleged her comments were made against the India Women’s team and criticised her on social media. Dane came forward and denied these allegations and stated that her comment was misinterpreted.
NO reference was made towards ANY team. If you want to take it out of context and not actually watch the whole interview, be my guest. Still a VERY proud captain of a VERY talented team. https://t.co/dZW96XDHvc
— Danevn81 (@Danevn811) March 5, 2020
Awards
- 2017: South African Cricket Annual Cricketer of the Year
- 2022: Wisden Cricketer of the Year
Car Collection
- She owns an Audi Q5 and an Audi A4.
Dane van Niekerk’s car collection
Favourites
- Tennis Player: Roger Federer
- Hollywood Movie: Armageddon
Facts/Trivia
- Her favourite moment in cricket was when she scored her maiden century.
- Dane van Niekerk was left out of South Africa Women’s team for the 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup after she failed to meet Cricket South Africa’s fitness standards for the state female players to run 2 kilometres within nine minutes 30 seconds; Van Nierkerk took 18 seconds more to complete it and was left out of the squad.
- Nierkerk was part of the official commentary panel during the 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
- Dane and her father were supporters of the South African professional rugby union team ‘Bulls’.
- On 13 November 2018, Dane van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp became the first married couple to bat together in a major ICC tournament; they played together against Sri Lanka Women in the group stage match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
- Her jersey number with the South African team was 81.
Dane van Niekerk’s jersey number
- She consumes alcohol and follows a non-vegetarian diet.
Dane van Niekerk and her wife with their fathers were spotted drinking beer
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education