Cricket South Africa has announced the recall of former captain Dane van Niekerk for the upcoming white-ball series against Ireland, marking her first selection for the national team since September 2021. This decision follows her reversal of international retirement in August, and she has shown impressive form in domestic cricket, leading to her inclusion in both the T20I and ODI squads.
At 32, van Niekerk has made a significant impact playing for the Western Province Women, having scored four half-centuries along with a 40 in her last six innings. Her performance has been key in demonstrating her readiness to return to the international stage.
As South Africa prepares for the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup, the home series against Ireland, scheduled from December 5 to 19 across six venues, serves as a crucial opportunity to assess and expand the player pool while focusing on global competitions.
The ODI squad represents the start of a new 50-over cycle, following South Africa's historic run to the World Cup final earlier this year. All-rounder Leah Jones will make her international debut, joining Tunnicliffe and Lara Goodall, who is returning to the ODI squad after a hiatus. Additionally, Ayanda Hlubi and Eliz-Mari Marx have also been included in the squad after missing the World Cup.
To manage the workload of senior players, several have been rested from the ODIs, including Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, and Annerie Dercksen. Meanwhile, Tazmin Brits is returning to the 50-over squad but will not participate in the T20 matches as she continues her rehabilitation from a shoulder injury sustained during the World Cup semi-final. Anneke Bosch, conversely, is not part of the squad due to domestic commitments.
Cricket South Africa's convenor of selectors, Clinton du Preez, expressed that this series will allow an in-depth evaluation of the talent pool while preparing for both the 2026 T20 World Cup and the 2029 one-day event. He highlighted van Niekerk's return due to her strong domestic performances and praised Jones and other domestic talents for their development and maturity in the game.