Couples like Dané van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp are dragging sport into the modern world.
TELFORD VICE in London
ENOUGH about my day — how was yours? Couples everywhere probably ask each other something like that most evenings.
But Dané van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp aren’t like most other couples.
They’re married, to each other, and they’re both playing for the Surrey Stars in this season’s Super League, the women’s T20 county competition.
That means they don’t have to enquire how the day went: they were right there to see for themselves whether they will celebrate or commiserate with their other half.
The best scenario, of course, is that they’ve both done well. Second prize is that they can each offer a shoulder to sulk on.
But there might have been a few awkward silences around the Van NieKapp dinner table in the past couple of weeks.
Leg spinner Van Niekerk, who is also South Africa’s captain, is joint second among the wicket-takers with eight scalps from her four games for Surrey.
Fast bowler Kapp, the stalwart leader of South Africa’s attack, has also played four matches — and taken only two wickets.
Van Niekerk’s 11.75 puts her fifth in the bowling averages, with Kapp’s 30.50 relegating her to 27th place.
Please pass the salt, and whatever you do don’t mention the dropped catches and dodgy umpiring.
But Kapp does have the upper hand over her spouse in one department, and considering the format it’s nothing to scoff about.
Van Niekerk has an economy rate of 6.33, 14th on the list. Kapp? A sparkling 4.69 — good enough for the third rung on this ladder.
Please pass the pepper, and would you like a sponge to dry up all those runs?
Things are a little less touchy on the batting side of the equation, where Van Niekerk has scored 42 runs and Kapp 35, both from three innings.
On Thursday, Surrey were in Guildford to play the Loughborough Lightning — who count Mignon du Preez, the former South Africa captain and still a force in the batting line-up, among their stars.
Du Preez scored a solid 70 not out off 41 balls, hammering a hattrick of boundaries off Mady Villiers to seal victory by seven wickets with 5.1 overs to spare.
How did Kapp and Van Niekerk fare against their compatriot?
Du Preez hit both of their first deliveries to her for four, and Van Niekerk went for nine runs and Kapp for eight.
But Van Niekerk bowled nine balls at the dangerous Du Preez and Kapp only four.
Don’t bother passing the dishcloth: you’re both doing the washing up.
Kapp and Van Niekerk are changing the dynamics of sport and dragging it into the modern world into the bargain.
And they are not alone. “Lea and I are overjoyed to share the news that I’m expecting our first child early in the new year,” New Zealand captain Amy Satterthwaite was quoted as saying in a release on Tuesday. Lea Tahuhu, her wife, also plays for the national side.
“It is a special time in our lives and we can’t wait for this new chapter.”
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) will keep Satterthwaite’s position open pending her “return to the field when the time is right”.
Better yet, as the release quoted NZC president David White as saying, “This means she’ll be paid her full retainer throughout and, although possibly fulfilling some off-field contractual obligations, will not be required to train or play [while she is on maternity leave].”
Not before time, civilisation is coming to sport.
Wonderful. Now, who’s on nappy-changing duty?
First published by Times SELECT
Comments
No comments yet. Start the conversation.