Proteas women’s coach Mandla Mashimbyi chiefly focussed on the cricketing ability
Proteas women’s coach Mandla Mashimbyi prioritises overall cricketing ability and contributions on the field over strict running fitness tests, he said as the South Africa squad for Cricket World Cup was announced on Wednesday. Picture: Michael Sherman/IOL
Image: Michael Sherman/IOL
After the warranted exclusion of Dane van Niekerk from the Proteas squad for the Women’s World Cup on Wednesday, South Africa coach Mandla Mashimbyi said he places more emphasis on cricketing ability above anything else.
The former Proteas skipper Van Niekerk announced her shock retirement from international cricket in 2023 after failing to pass a 2km timetrial, which was part of the fitness requirements to be selected for the T20 World Cup that year.
This came after a long injury layoff with a broken ankle, and it was unsurprising that she was unable to run the distance in under the required 9 minutes and 30 seconds.
Since then, the strict running fitness tests seem to have been replaced with assessments targeted at overall strength, endurance, and agility. Last month, Van Niekerk reversed her decision to retire and joined the team in a training camp in Durban ahead of the World Cup squad announcement.
Running Time Trials and Fitness Assessments for Player Eligibility
When asked by IOL if the players still had to do a running time trial to be eligible, Mashimbyi said: “I know that I’m supposed to be aware of these things that you’re asking me now. But I’ve got a fitness trainer that I pay to tell me exactly this is where the players are at. But I do know that they do a little bit of Bronco [1.2km shuttle run to measure aerobic endurance].
“And there’s a set time that everybody needs to get into. And also, they do things in the gym as well to test their power.
“So there’s a little bit of an overall in terms of how we look at fitness, because we’ve got different individuals that present different skills in terms of their fitness.”
Mashimbyi Emphasises Field Contribution and Overall Cricketing Ability
Ultimately though, Mashimbyi was most concerned with how his players could contribute on the field.
“It's for us to understand and see how we can push that threshold. But in terms of that, for me as a coach, I just want to see a player that's fit on the field, that's able to play the whole game without any issues, and be fit throughout the game.
“That's what I'm looking for, because I'm judging it based on that. I don't want to see a player that plays half the game and then the other half; they’re nowhere to be found. And that's how I judge it. And obviously, I've been in the game for a long time, so I know exactly what is required from a player's point of view when it comes to those types of things.”
Mashimbyi was clear that he would still value running fitness, but overall cricketing ability was his main requirement.
“It's not something that I would crucify a player on, to be honest. But it's something that's necessary.”