Cricket

With the Women’s Cricket World Cup just around the corner, today’s guest is someone whose story is still being written but already making an impact. Miane Smit is just 20 years old, but in the last year, she’s earned her international debut, been part of a World Cup squad as a reserve, and shared the field with the very players she refers to as her heroes. When Sune Luus presented Miane with her first T20 international cap for the Proteas earlier this year, it was a moment of joy and humour. If you asked all – rounder Miane Smit if she saw herself in this position just two years ago, she would not have believed you. However, the talented batter and off spinner has played in two ODI’s and three T20I’s for the Proteas, was the travelling reserve for the T20 world cup and for this year’s 50 over Cricket World Cup.

In our conversation, we talk about what it really feels like to step into the green and gold, the pressure and pride of wearing the Proteas badge, and what she’s hoping to bring to South Africa’s campaign in the subcontinent. Miane talks about the standard the players set and how they continue to motivate her, challenge her in the best way possible, and the advice some of the players have given her for navigating cricket on and off the field.

We also get into Miane’s ambitions, including a dream century for her country and the power of being surrounded by a team that pushes you to be better, every single day. We talk spin attack and its role in the World Cup, as well as the team that poses the most threat in the group stages. What’s it like to go from watching your heroes on TV… to sharing a locker room with them? It’s all in this episode.

The Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup may be over, but the emotions are still running high. Join me this week as I dive deep into the heart of the Proteas campaign with Mieke de Ridder, the talented wicketkeeper and right-hand batter for the Proteas. She made her international debut for the national team over a year ago against Pakistan and was part of the world cup squad that just wrapped up their campaign in Dubai. 

From the historic semi-final victory against Australia to the heartbreak of the final loss against New Zealand, we unpack the moments and experiences that defined the team’s journey. Mieke opens up about the profound impact of these experiences on the team and cricket fans alike, offering her personal perspective on coping with triumph and disappointment. We also get straightforward about how we both dealt with disappointment from opposite sides of the game, as a lover of the game and as a player. 

Curious about the five individuals Mieke de Ridder honoured on her shirt? Want to know how she discovered her passion for wicketkeeping? And who are some of the individuals she credits with helping her grow into the confident player she is today? Tune in as we explore these questions and more in a conversation that goes beyond the scoreboard. Hit play and relive the unforgettable moments of the World Cup with us!

This week’s episode of She Speaks Sport, dives deep into the heart and mind of top order Proteas batter Tazmin Brits, just as the thrilling 2024 ICC T20 Women’s Cricket World Cup kicks off in the vibrant heat of Dubai. As South Africa prepares to face the West Indies tomorrow, there’s no shortage of excitement and anticipation surrounding this tournament.

In our heartfelt conversation, Tazmin opens up about the unique challenges of competing in the U.A.E., conditions unfamiliar to all ten teams. She shares her strategies for navigating the pressures of World Cup competition, including the routines she has developed to foster her mental resilience and navigating social media during the tournament. Reflecting on 2023’s historic semi-final victory over England and the subsequent clash with Australia, Tazmin reflects on the invaluable lessons learned from those historic, moving moments.

This episode also touches on a deeply personal note, Tazmin’s mother, Zeldine, her unwavering supporter, is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer and won’t be in the stands this time. Tazmin Brits discusses how this impacts her mindset and how mindfulness has become a vital part of her preparation for the upcoming matches. Tune in for an inspiring conversation with one of the key Proteas players as she embarks on this pivotal World Cup journey. Don’t miss this important and enlightening conversation on She Speaks Sport.

Dané van Niekerk is a phenomenal cricketing all-rounder who played for South Africa, broke records and led as the women’s national captain for over 6 years. After a standout career in Test matches, ODIs, and T20Is from 2009 to 2022, Dané is back on the field with the Western Province women’s team for the new 2024 – 2025 season.

In this candid conversation, Dané shares her feelings about joining the Western Province team, the invaluable support she has received from her teammates, and coaching staff. We dive deep into her natural leadership skills, and how she believes in being a listening ear for those around her, both with seasoned and emerging players. We chat about her memorable first training camp with the team where she sported Marizanne’s kit, after tossing her own aside after her retirement. Dané openly shares what it means to be back, the feeling of starting afresh, the mental battles of returning back to Provincial cricket and how nervous she felt to start bowling again. She is not closing the door on returning to international cricket in the future, but knows she will be held to a higher standard. Away from cricket, I ask Dané about marriage (as we can all use some advice), and she gives us a special look at Marizanne through her own eyes. This weekend the warm up game in Oudtshoorn will kick start the season, where Dané once faced her most darkest moments. We chat through the mental strength needed for the new season, the past memories and the bittersweet feeling of being a commentator watching the sport she loves, but away from the field.

Ken Jacobs has achieved many significant milestones in the sport and leisure industries. He was the CEO of Cricket Victoria, and event manager for the ICC Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean in 2007. He has been a mentor, chair and collaborator with various sporting clubs and bodies, and today he is involved with Cricket without Borders, which promotes and develops the game of cricket for young girls.

On the show Ken and I kick it off with chit -chat about the cricket rivalry that existed between Australia and South Africa. Ken takes us back to the 60’s when his father was deeply involved with cricket and how he formed profound friendships with many South African cricket players. We get into the organisation Cricket without Borders which was started in 2011 by Claire Cannon, at a time when cricket opportunities were not readily available for women. The organisation takes tours for young girls to play cricket overseas, experience different cultures and give back to the communities in the countries they visit. The most recent tour to Malaysia just returned, and Ken unpacks how the players experienced the cricket, the culture and the afternoon tea with the Australian High Commissioner in the region. We discuss the resources being made available to women’s cricket in Australia, and the hurdles that still exist to further the game.

Lili Stephenson is a passionate cricket lover, and the founder of Bat for America. She is a mixed race, cultural American, multilingual educator, who is a mom of six. Her passion lies in teaching individuals about the power of their personal voice and boundaries, along with the desire to see cricket accessible to all cultures through the Empowered Cricket Program.

On the show, we unpack the meaning of cultural American and how this impacts access to cricket. Discussing the men’s T20 world cup, Lili provides keen insight into how the world cup was received, the marketing behind the tournament and the perception of cricket within the U.S. Lili also shares her family’s experiences around cricket coaching, and her hopes as an educator, that cricket will grow at grassroots level in the U.S. This episode is incredibly insightful and answers global questions around the experience of cricket in North America.

Scotland women wrote cricket history in May this year with a spectacular win over Ireland, to secure their place in their maiden T20 cricket World Cup. It was a day filled with emotion, and opening batter Megan McColl was at the centre of proceedings with her magnificent half a century by the 15th over.

Joining me on the podcast, Megan relives the innings by sharing with us what was in her head during her batting spell. How her batting partner Saskia helped her bounce ideas around out in the middle. We also explore the broader landscape of women’s cricket in Scotland, discussing the challenges the sport faces and whether the historic World Cup qualification has sparked changes at higher levels. Megan opens up about her performances and, her aspirations to be in the starting eleven for the World Cup later this year.

Additionally, we’ll delve into the self-belief that united the Scottish team during the qualifiers and the mental barriers that cricketers must overcome to forge successful careers. Megan gives us insight into the rest of the season and how the players manage the delicate balance of working and representing their country on the cricket field. Join us as we reflect on the inspiring journey through one of the most momentous achievements in women’s cricket in Scotland.

In this episode, I have the immense pleasure of welcoming Laura Wolvaardt, the captain of the South African women’s national cricket team, to the show. She’s not only the Proteas top-order batter but also showcases her talent in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) for the Gujarat Giants, the Women’s Big Bash League with the Adelaide Strikers, and The Hundred for the Manchester Originals.

In 2017, she was named Women’s Newcomer of the Year at the Cricket South Africa (CSA) awards and still holds the record for being the youngest South African to score an international cricket century. With the India tour kicking off this June, Laura shares her thoughts and feelings ahead of the much-anticipated games. We dive into the atmosphere within the team as they gear up to face the Women in Blue at some of India’s most iconic cricket venues. Laura opens up about her personal journey with T20 cricket, detailing how she overcame criticism through self-belief and hard work.

We also discuss her back-to-back centuries in the ODIs against Sri Lanka, exploring how she handles the pressure and challenges of captaining a diverse team. As an introvert with fans around the world, Laura gives us a glimpse into how she manages her public persona, deals with the fear of failure, and what her game day superstitions are. Plus, find out who is the bowler she least likes to face in the women’s game, and why she wears number 14. 

Join us for an in-depth conversation with one of South Africa’s most beloved athletes, Laura Wolvaardt, and get to know the person behind the cricket legend.