De Ridder in team to take on Bangladesh

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CRICKET NEWS - Having left cricket at 19 to pursue her Architectural Technology studies, recently-capped Proteas Women wicketkeeper Mieke de Ridder made a swift return to the sport in 2020, climbing her way up to the national team at the commencement of the 2023/24 season.

On the back of the historic professionalisation of women's domestic cricket in South Africa in the form of the CSA Professional Women's Domestic League, the 27-year-old Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers star earned her first-ever Proteas call-up for the team's trip to Pakistan from 1 to 14 September this year.

De Ridder said: "It was a huge honour and privilege for me to officially get that call-up. It is something I worked towards since I was a young child. I really wanted to play for the Proteas and to know that the hard work finally paid off."

In the T20 International (T20I) series against Pakistan, with South Africa trailing 2-0, De Ridder received her debut cap for the third and final encounter in Karachi, becoming T20I cap number 59 for the Proteas Women as the visitors went down fighting in the shorter format.

While not featuring in the One-Day Internationals against Pakistan, the Cradock-born wicket-keeper batter took over the 12th-player duties as South Africa claimed a 2-1 series victory, earning valuable ICC Women's Championship 2022-25 points.

De Ridder continued her journey, participating in the 16-player squad that faced New Zealand in a white ball tour at home from 24 September to 15 October, as the host nation secured another split win in the 50-over encounters.

Unfortunately, inclement weather led to the abandonment of the first three T20I matches of the series in East London, before the two sides moved to Benoni for a two-game playoff, with the White Ferns striking first in the fourth match.

After not taking an on-field role throughout the inbound tour, De Ridder received an unexpected entrance into the fifth T20I at Willowmoore Park after regular 'keeper Sinalo Jafta went down with a shoulder injury in the 12th over, with the diminutive player helping the home side level the series with a thrilling 11-run triumph.

"For me, whether you're in the playing 11 or not, it is very important to always contribute to the team in whichever way you possibly can. Whether that be carrying water or being the voice of the coach when running on and giving any advice or messages to the players," the former Hoërskool DF Malherbe student noted.

At the start of the inaugural CSA Professional Women's Domestic League, De Ridder will be hoping to help the Badgers continue their positive tenure in Division One after achieving a mid-table finish in their first year back in the Top 6 in the 2022/23 campaign.

Although representing the Garden Route Bagders is the next assignment on the timetable for De Ridder, international cricket remains top of mind for the Nelson Mandela University alumni.

The Proteas Women are set to take on sub-continent side Bangladesh in three T20Is and three ODIs at home from 3 to 23 December.

Mieke de Ridder with Sinalo Jafta after the fifth T20 International match against New Zealand at Willowmoore Park in Benoni.