Annerie Dercksen started the year with the ICC Women’s Emerging Player of the Year award following what was a brilliant 2024 for the all-rounder, where she played a key role in getting the Proteas Women to the final of the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE.
A couple of months later, following yet another set of impressive performances in the green and gold, Dercksen has been nominated in three categories for the upcoming Cricket South Africa Awards scheduled to take place in Johannesburg on July 31.
The 24-year-old is nominated for the SA Fans’ Player of the Year award alongside the likes of Temba Bavuma, the Women’s Player of the Year and the Women’s ODI Player of the Year.
In an exclusive interview with Independent Media, Dercksen opened up about her preparations for what will be a night of celebrations, glitz and glam in Johannesburg.
“I actually went to the dress fitting today. So, excited to get a bit dressed up and all of that and see everyone again,” Dercksen said. “I’m not really one for personal recognition. I can’t say that I’m excited or even hoping to win anything, but I guess it’s a great honour to be recognised.”
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This year, Dercksen showed glimpses of the all-rounder that she could become for South Africa when senior players such as Marizanne Kapp move on from international cricket.
The 24-year-old scored her maiden ODI century this year and did so in Sri Lanka, where South African batters tend to struggle given the difference in conditions between Sri Lanka and South Africa.
Dercksen described the tour to Sri Lanka as her highest point yet, and that she felt invincible during that tour as she recorded consecutive scores of 61 not out, 81 and 104 in Colombo.
Right after that series, the Women’s side toured the West Indies, where Dercksen had a relatively quiet tour.
“We had that Sri Lanka series where I guess you could say I was on a high. I felt a little bit invincible. Everything I tried came off, and I scored a lot of runs in that series. Then we had the West Indies series shortly after, where it didn’t go as well as I’d planned,” said Dercksen.
“So, there’s a lot of learning from both series. I think the Sri Lanka one gave me confidence in my ability and the way I want to play, and helped reinforce my gameplan in international cricket. But then, also the West Indies also threw different challenges at us with maybe slower wickets and slower outfields.
“Reflecting on it, just navigating and how I can maybe better adapt my game. I also came in very different situations in the West Indies than in Sri Lanka, which maybe I wasn’t accustomed to.”
The Women’s ODI World Cup is scheduled to take place in India and Sri Lanka from September 30, and Dercksen highlighted that they are going into the tournament quietly confident despite what the world may think.
Dercksen says they will take confidence from the Men’s WTC triumph at Lord’s last month.
“I think, internationally, we probably won’t be recognised as the favourites to do it. But in our hearts and within the squad, we are definitely silently confident that we can maybe bring that trophy home,” said Dercksen.
“I think the men have given us a great template now with the Test Championship victory. So, we are really looking forward to it. I think we’ve got a great mix of experience and youth at the moment, and we’ve got tremendous talent in all facets. I’m really looking forward to the World Cup.”
