From Kappie to Dercky: Building South Africa’s Next Pace-Bowling Force

"It was the 2017 World Cup semi-final and - I don't know if I should say this - there was a picture of Marizanne crying on the floor. I still see that vividly in my head," said Dercksen. 

Annerie Dercksen remembers the semi-final at the World Cup in 2017, when Marizanne Kapp was seen distressed over the loss of South Africa to England by 2 wickets. 

This marked a turning point in the life of Dercksen, as this was the first time she was exposed to women in cricket, and this made her play professional cricket for South Africa.

"That's probably the first women's game I've ever watched. And after that, I realised there's women's cricket in South Africa and thought maybe I could also play," said Dercksen. 

The Journey from Hero Worship to Teammates

"In an interview, I said that I could now take water to her on the field and it was just the moment of my life. I'm still like that daily."

Years later, Dercksen found herself playing alongside Kapp in the South African team. She recalls the surreal moment of having breakfast with Kapp, and still feeling awe-struck by her hero. Dercksen’s admiration for Kapp continues to be evident in her daily interactions with her idol.

"Dercky is young. She makes me tired," she says, only half-joking, on the same call. "She is a very playful, busy person. I have to warn her and the other young ones every second night not to have their tea parties or coffee parties close to my room. They must go to the [room of the] person that's furthest away from my room."

While Kapp respects Dercksen’s energy, she humorously mentions that the young cricketer’s playful nature can be exhausting. Kapp jokingly scolds Dercksen and other younger teammates for their late-night activities, like tea parties, which disrupt her sleep.

Personal Growth and the Mentorship of Kapp

"I'm a little socially awkward," Dercksen says. "And obviously, with Kappie being my hero, I've got to think when I have to ask her a question. I've got to prepare it, play it in my head first, and then I've got to go up to her. In the last couple of years, it's been getting a bit easier to speak to her."

Dercksen describes how difficult it was initially to approach Kapp, who was her hero. She admits feeling socially awkward and having to mentally prepare herself before speaking to Kapp. However, over time, she’s become more comfortable interacting with her idol.

"I really like her. She wants to pretend that she's more serious than she actually is. There's a little playful side of her that we're going to get out of her. She started taking part in our soccer warm-ups now, which is cool."

Although it might be tough on the field, Dercksen notes that there is a fun side to her that is gradually being revealed by the younger players. She points at Kapp, who is participating in their soccer warm-ups, indicating that Kapp is relaxing and she is on the lighter side of the team.

On the Field and Work Ethic

"I get so annoyed with people when they judge me on how I am on the field," she says. "This is my job. I'm not going to smile and laugh when people hit me for six or four. I want to do well. I want to win. So if you are judging me because I'm not smiling on the field, just know that this is a competition."

Kapp explains that her on-field demeanor is simply her focus and commitment to her role as a cricketer. She gets frustrated when people misjudge her seriousness during matches, emphasizing that her primary goal is to win, not to entertain.

"I'm just very focused, even at training. If we're playing around, or it's not structured, I immediately get so annoyed because I feel like I need to get something out of this training session. I'm not just here to spend time on the field. There has to be a purpose for me, otherwise I'd rather just leave it."

Kapp talks about her intense focus during training sessions, where she dislikes any unstructured activities. She insists that every training session must have a purpose, and if she can’t extract value from it, she prefers to leave. This mentality reflects her dedication to improving her skills and reaching her goals.

Reflecting on South Africa's Growth

"That was probably one of the best teams we ever had," Kapp says.

Reflecting on South Africa’s near-miss in the 2017 World Cup semi-final, Kapp considers that squad one of the best the team has ever had. Despite the heartbreak of losing, she acknowledges the incredible quality and belief within the team during that tournament.

"In South Africa, years ago we never had someone coming in to fill a spot," she said. "If someone left, you almost had to start again, and then you ended up further behind Australia, India and England. Now it's getting easier."

Kapp highlights the growth of South African women’s cricket over the years. In the past, when a player left, there was no one to step in, and the team would fall behind more established cricketing nations. 

Now, she sees a more stable system with young players stepping up to fill the gaps.

Mentorship and Training Focus

"She's so talented and I don't want to see that go to waste," Kapp said.
Kapp expresses her belief in Dercksen’s potential, saying she doesn’t want to see her talent go underutilized. She is committed to mentoring Dercksen to ensure she reaches her full capabilities as both a bowler and an all-rounder.

"I think Kappie still has one more left in her."
Dercksen remains optimistic about Kapp’s future and believes she has one more World Cup left in her. Despite Kapp’s age and the passage of time, Dercksen feels Kapp still has the ability to perform at the highest level.

Looking Ahead

"I am a bit sad that I'm this age now because these kids are so blessed with where women's cricket is at the moment," Kapp said. "They can just get better and better and it's just going to get bigger and bigger."

Kapp reflects on her career and the advancements in women’s cricket. While she feels a bit sad about aging, she acknowledges the incredible opportunities available to younger players today and the continued growth of the sport.

"We've got it better than they have," she says. "The amount of work they've put in from when they started, and there weren't even contracts… They stayed in places we probably would never stay now. They flew economy. So they did the hard yards for us."

Dercksen appreciates the hard work and sacrifices made by earlier generations of cricketers, including Kapp. She acknowledges that today’s players have it easier, thanks to the groundwork laid by the pioneers of women’s cricket.

Acknowledging the Past and Looking to the Future

"At the last World Cup, I was more sad for the senior players like Kappie and Chloe [Tryon] and Aya [Khaka] than I was for myself," Dercksen said. "They thoroughly deserve to win a World Cup."
Dercksen expresses her empathy for the senior players, particularly Kapp, who have worked hard throughout their careers without winning a World Cup. She wishes for them to finally achieve that success, especially if this is Kapp’s last World Cup.

"I don't know. At the next one I'll be 39, so that's a bit far away."

Kapp reflects on the uncertainty of her future in the game, acknowledging that at 39, the next World Cup may be too far in the future for her to compete in.