From farm to fame - Annerie Dercksen is the Proteas women's new rising star

Annerie Dercksen of South Africa playing a shot during the Womens ODI Tri-Series, 6th ODI match between Sri Lanka and South Africa at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium on May 09, 2025 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (Photo by Isuru Sameera/Gallo Images)

By Keanan Hemmonsbey

20 May 2025

Cricket was the sport Annerie and her brother Septimus compromised on playing when growing up. Now she’s one of the leading all-rounders in the country.

Annerie Dercksen has proven over the past month in Sri Lanka that she is one of the most promising cricketers in the country – a sport she learnt to play as a child on her family’s farm in Beaufort West with her brother.

Annerie and her brother Septimus are a year apart – she’s the oldest – and didn’t have many friends on the farm. They played a variety of sports together to pass the time before cricket stuck as their shared interest.

“Cricket definitely found me,” Dercksen told Daily Maverick. “We grew up on a farm and it was just my brother and myself, I had no other friends. He hurt me a bit when we tried to play rugby, to try to accommodate him, and he didn’t like netball when we tried to play it, to accommodate me. We sort of found a middle ground in cricket where we didn’t hurt each other and it was still fun for both of us.”

Despite clubbing the ball around on the fields of the farm with her brother, Dercksen didn’t play the sport competitively because there were no girls’ teams at the time. However, she grabbed the opportunity with the hard red ball the second the chance came around.

“Towards the end of primary school a boy fell ill and they needed someone to help out with the team and I said ‘I can play cricket’,” she explained. “The rest is history. I’m very thankful for my brother dragging me along in backyard cricket games.”

The Proteas’ Annerie Dercksen in action during their Women’s ODI Tri-Series match against India in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 7 May 2025. (Photo: Isuru Sameera / Gallo Images)

Batting prowess

Dercksen’s talents have taken her from slogging the ball on the farm to the Proteas national colours and recently stamping her mark as sure-fire in the playing XI.

The all-rounder was a shining light on an otherwise dark tour for the national side who lost three out of four matches in the tri-series against Sri Lanka and India.

During the coming-of-age tour Dercksen scored 276 runs at an average of 92, with scores of 30, 61 (not out), 81 and 104. The undefeated 61 against Sri Lanka was her first half-century in international cricket, before collecting her second against India and wrapping up the tour with an incredible maiden century.

Dercksen’s 104 is the second-highest score in women’s ODI cricket from number seven.

“On a personal front I’m quite surprised,” Dercksen said about her performances on the subcontinent. “I didn’t really expect to do so well. But in playing a team sport, personal performance doesn’t really mean much if we’re still falling short.

“As a team and individually we learnt a lot, so we’ll look to put that into place [in the next series].”

Before the tri-series in Sri Lanka Dercksen had batted four times in ODI cricket, registering scores of 1, 27, 29 and 13. In T20I cricket she had shown the ability to clear the fence but had been unable to show consistency in the infancy of her career.

The sharp upward tick in performances with the willow in the past month is almost solely down to batting coach Baakier Abrahams, who was appointed to the role 12 months ago.

“Most, if not all, the credit has to go to [Baakier Abrahams],” Dercksen said. “He has been absolutely amazing. I’ve always had the power game, but it took him sitting down with me and giving me some options to play the game in between because ultimately every ball can’t go for six.

“A lot of credit has to go to him for how he’s trained options with me and talked me through situations and how to go about it.”

Annerie Dercksen guides the ball against Sri Lanka during a Womens ODI Tri-Series match in Colombo on 9 May 2025. (Photo: Isuru Sameera / Gallo Images)

While reaching a century, particularly a maiden one, is a highlight for most cricketers, Dercksen didn’t even realise it was happening when she lofted medium-pace Sri Lankan bowler Malki Madara over long-off for six to move from 94 to 100 off only 81 deliveries.

“I’m not really one for personal milestones,” Dercksen explained. “In the moment I didn’t really know what was happening, but reflecting on it, it’s pretty special.

“It’s not why I play the game, the team’s success is much more important than individual milestones. As long as we are winning I am happy.”

Luckily for Dercksen, the Proteas Women claimed a 76-run win over the hosts in that match, their only win of the series.

Bowling practice

While Dercksen’s batting has improved rapidly, she’s hoping to see the same progress with her bowling.

The sturdy all-rounder bowled 14.5 overs of her aggressive medium pace across the four matches and went at an economy rate exceeding eight, collecting two wickets along the way.

“I’d love to see that improving.” Dercksen explained that until four years ago she was a spin bowler and is still in the process of perfecting her seam bowling.

“At the moment it’s just about finding my action and bowling as much as possible in game situations,” she said.

“I’m also working really hard with bowling coach Dillon du Preez, sorting out small things in my action which are causing bigger things to happen and maybe a loss of control.

“It will take a bit of time but I’m excited to do the work. Hopefully it can improve soon.”

Dercksen’s bowling currently is characterised by bowling as fast and aggressively as possible, the antithesis of spin bowling.

“Basically, all I know about seam bowling is pace and aggression, but I’m starting to find out that control and subtle skills are also very important in the game,” she said. “I’m really working on it.”

Dercksen has already demonstrated an ability to improve rapidly with the bat, and with the potential already there with the ball, to go with her assiduous attitude, she’s sure to find similar success soon.

While the farm in Beaufort West laid the foundations of her game, Dercksen is on a mission to become the best version of the player she can be. DM

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Batting prowess

Bowling practice