The energetic right-hander closes off her 15-year ODI international career as the Proteas’ most-capped and leading run-scorer.
THE PROTEAS Women’s team closed off an era yesterday when former captain Mignon du Preez called time on her ODI and Test career.
Du Preez made her international debut back in 2007 as a 17-year-old when the women’s game was an altogether different sport than was recently witnessed at the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.
The energetic right-hander closes off her 15-year ODI international career as the Proteas’ most-capped (154) and leading run-scorer (3,760).
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Du Preez also struck a Test century on debut against India in 2014 to make her one of only three South African women to score a Test century alongside Yvonne van Mentz (vs England, 1961) and Brenda Williams (vs New Zealand, 1972).
Du Preez’s greatest contribution to South African women’s cricket is though overseeing the transition from the amateur ranks to the professional status that the team now enjoys.
“I feel the time is right to announce my retirement from the longer format of the game and focus my attention on T20 cricket going forward. Thus, I decided to retire from ODI cricket at the completion of our recent World Cup in New Zealand,” Du Preez said in a statement.
1️⃣ 5️⃣ incredible years
1️⃣ 5️⃣ 4️⃣ ODIs
1️⃣ TestWhat a career in the longer formats it has been @MdpMinx22 🏏 #AlwaysRising pic.twitter.com/vOLG2Yas9p
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) April 7, 2022
“I feel South African women’s cricket is in a very healthy state and the time is right to step away and allow the next generation of exciting cricketers to continue to grow this beautiful game of ours.”
CSA chief executive Pholetsi Moseki paid tribute to “a champion of women’s cricket in South Africa and the world at large”.
“Mignon is a true example for any young girl who wants to take up the sport; that anything is possible through dedication, determination, and ever-lasting inquisitiveness to your craft while maintaining kindness and humility,” Moseki said.
🚨 STATEMENT @MdpMinx22 has announced her retirement from ODI and Test cricket
Thank You for all your contributions to raising the profile of women's cricket in the longer formats 🙌
She remains available for national duty in T20Is 🏏 #AlwaysRising pic.twitter.com/4l4pUanlcA
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) April 7, 2022
“Although CSA is saddened by her departure from the longer formats of the game after more than 150 caps and 3,000 runs, we will take solace from the legacy she leaves behind and await with pleasure to witness how she will continue contributing to the game she holds so dear to her heart.”
Du Preez’s legacy in South Africa cricket has forever been imprinted with her host union, Northerns, honouring her back in 2019 with the unveiling of the ‘Mignon du Preez Gates’ at SuperSport Park.
The veteran will still be available for the T20I leg of Proteas’ bumper tour to England later this year before she joins up with her new team, the Trent Rockets, after moving from the Manchester Originals during the recent draft for this season’s The Hundred.
