Dane van Niekerk included in Proteas XI as Laura Wolvaardt elects to bat against Ireland

Former Proteas Women’s captain Dane van Niekerk will make her return to international cricket after a four-year absence from the national team in Friday’s first T20I against Ireland at Newlands.

Van Niekerk was included in the starting XI after Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt won the toss and elected to bat under grey skies in Cape Town. 

The 32-year-old has not played since her last T20I against the West Indies in Antigua in 2021. 

“She’s been great so far (in the pre-series training camp). It looks like she just wants to contribute in any way she can,” Wolvaardt said.

“She obviously has a lot of knowledge cricket-wise – she’s a very smart cricketer – so she has a lot to offer to the team, more just her skill."

Van Niekerk’s Western Province teammate Faye Tunnicliffe will also make her return after not playing since the England series last year. 

Ireland captain Gaby Lewis will hope to impart some local knowledge to her teammates after playing for South Western Districts in the CSA T20 Challenge.

TEAMS FOR NEWLANDS

Proteas Women: Laura Wolvaardt(c), Sune Luus, Faye Tunnicliffe, Dane van Niekerk, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Sinalo Jafta(w), Nadine de Klerk, Nondumiso Shangase, Masabata Klaas, Nonkululeko Mlaba

Ireland Women: Amy Hunter (wk), Gaby Lewis (c), Orla Prendergast, Laura Delany, Leah Paul, Coulter Reilly, Louise Little, Ava Canning, Aimee Maguire, Jane Maguire, Lara McBride