The Momentum Proteas will kick off their ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup campaign against tournament debutantes, Bangladesh, as captain Suné Luus will aim to lead the South Africans to title glory in New Zealand. Photo: Suné Luus (Instagram)

The Momentum Proteas will kick off their ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup campaign against tournament debutantes, Bangladesh, as captain Suné Luus will aim to lead the South Africans to title glory in New Zealand.

Over the last three years, Luus has been pushed firmly out of her comfort zone. In early 2019, she went from being dropped, to making a comeback and being thrust into a leadership position, all in the space of three weeks.

It was the start of a whirlwind period that would see her captain South Africa against Sri Lanka and Pakistan at home, and on a tough tour to India.

South Africa managed to dominate in their own backyard, but the series against India was far from easy. The Momentum Proteas were thrashed, managing only one win in seven ODIs. Through the tour, Luus appeared hesitant when making on-field decisions, clearly short on captaincy experience. But despite the difficulties she took plenty of valuable lessons from that trip.

“I have learned patience,” she told gsport at the time. “You are not always going to go home with a win. You’ve got to be patient with yourself and with your teammates.”

Regular skipper, Dané van Niekerk’s return to the setup later that year meant Luus took a back seat again, focusing on her own game leading into the 2020 T20 World Cup in Australia.

Following the heartbreak of that tournament semi-final and an extended COVID-19 enforced break, South Africa returned to the international stage in early 2021.

Luus was their skipper again; filling in for van Niekerk while she recuperated from injury. It wasn’t her spot to make her own – she was merely keeping the chair warm for van Niekerk’s return.

Back in charge in 2021, Luus led South Africa to a series win over Pakistan at home, and followed it up with a remarkable double series win over in India. She appeared calmer, and more sure of herself, in control of the conversations she was having and the decisions she was making.

South Africa dominated the same star-studded Indian team that had crushed them only 18 months ago, and key to that turnaround was a more confident captain. With every passing game, it seemed Luus was able to better understand her identity as a leader.

That confidence in herself and her own style reflects in the way Luus now speaks about her role. There is an understanding that van Niekerk is still the ultimate leader of the side, but while she is wearing that captain’s armband, Luus will bring her own unique style.

“Obviously, I have big shoes to fill with Dané. She’s obviously a very good player and a good captain as well. But I think for me it’s kind of just to make it my own. You can’t really be like the person next to you. You’ve got to do what’s right for you and what you feel you need to do.

“So, I think that’s just what I’ve been doing over the past couple of times that I’ve been given the honour to captain. I’ve just been putting my own spin on it and trying to do things my way as well,” she said in the pre-tournament press-conference.

“I think I just try and stay as calm as I can. I think that really helps the team and that really just gives them the confidence to just back their skill and do what they can and to know that we trust them and I trust them with whatever they are doing. Just to stay as calm as possible and take it one ball at a time.”

Since the start of her career, Luus has served as van Niekerk’s understudy – first as a leg-spinner and now as skipper. The 26-year-old was never really meant to take centre stage this early, but when has life ever followed the perfect script?

 

Photo 1 Caption: The Momentum Proteas will kick off their ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup campaign against tournament debutantes, Bangladesh, as captain Suné Luus will aim to lead the South Africans to title glory in New Zealand. Photo: Suné Luus (Instagram)

Please Rate this Post

0 ratings, 0 votes0 ratings, 0 votes (0 rating, 0 votes, rated)
You need to be a registered member to rate this.
Loading...

About the Author:

gsport Newsroom

gsport Newsroom

Launched in 2006, gsport exists to enhance the commercial prospects of our women athletes, and other women in sport, by telling the inspiring story of SA women in sport. Thank you for your contribution!

New Report

Close