Du Preez: A woman who has paved way for aspiring female cricketers

Women's Cricket has come a very long way from when I started playing - we were amateurs.

Mignon du Preez (born 13 June 1989) is a South African cricketer, who was the women's team captain in all 3 forms of cricket Test, ODI and Twenty20 from 2011 to 2016. A right-handed batsman and occasional wicket-keeper, du Preez made her debut for the South Africa national women's cricket team in January 2007, aged seventeen. Besides being the South African player with most matches as captain in both ODI and Twenty20, she is also the highest run-scorer for South Africa women in Twenty20 and the second highest in ODI. On 21 February 2016, she became the first South African women to score 1,000 career runs in T20I during a match against England.

Mignon who has been dubbed the female version of Jonty Rhodes took us through her cricket journey, stepping down from captaincy and her future plans. 

The L.A Dosage: What drove you to cricket?

Mignon Du Preez: I actually started playing cricket by accident. My older brother played Mini Cricket and my dad was their coach. At one of the Mini Cricket Festivals, their team was a player
short and my dad asked if I wanted to play (I was only around 4½ years old). However, at the end of the day, I was the best batter for the day and won my very first accolade in my life - that is where my love started for the game. The acknowledgment I received that day, might have been something quite small for bystanders – but it changed my life.

The L.A Dosage: Please walk us through your initial cricket days

Mignon Du Preez: As mentioned above, I started playing cricket via the Mini Cricket Program. In Primary School I played mainly with the boys and started playing for Doringkloof Primary's 1st cricket team at age 11. (I might have been the first girl ever to score 100 runs in a match for a primary school (boys) first team). During Grade 7, I got introduced to girls/women's cricket and started playing for Gauteng North (Northerns) Women's Cricket team. I scored my first double hundred during in the same year (Gr7) in a provincial game for Gauteng North's U13 girl's cricket team versus Gauteng's U13 girl's cricket team (scored 258* not out in 96 balls (16x6's & 28x4's). I also represented SA in the u/17 girls Indoor Cricket. Fortunately, Zwartkop High School had a girls’ cricket team and I continued playing more girls & club cricket. At age 17, I got invited to my first National Training Camp for the South African Women's Cricket team and finally made my debut for South Africa in January 2007 against Pakistan (in Grade 12). I've played for South Africa ever since. I missed out only on a single tour since 2007 due to exams (during my Marketing degree at University of Pretoria).

The L.A Dosage: You are studying towards a Marketing degree at the University of Pretoria. How do you cope with studies while being a fulltime cricketer?

Mignon Du Preez: I have actually completed my Honours Degree in Marketing at the University of Pretoria in 2011. It was not always easy to juggle studies and playing for my country but I was really good with my time management.

The L.A Dosage: You made your debut back in 2007 as a seventeen-year-old for the women's team. How have things changed for you in your career since then?

Mignon Du Preez: Women's Cricket has come a very long way since then. When I started playing, we were amateurs. However, we currently have 14 contracted players and a National Academy for women's cricketers. Back 2007, we played around one tour a season, we now play 3-5 tours a season. We have a full team sponsor in Momentum (hence our name Momentum Proteas) and as players, we are starting to attract some personal sponsors/endorsements. I currently have my own Minx22 equipment range made by XX Cricket in Norfolk, England. I became the captain in 2011 and was very fortunate to captain South Africa in 97 matches before I decided to step down in 2016. Up to date, I represented SA in 156 matches. I was also very fortunate to play in the first ever Women's Big Bash League in Australia in 2015. I played for the Melbourne Stars. (Had to cut my honeymoon short – got married on 5 December and reported to Melbourne Stars for duty later the same month).

The L.A Dosage: Women's cricket has surely seen a rise in the past 2-3 years. How do you see this and what has boosted the cause?

Mignon Du Preez: CSA together with our Team Sponsor Momentum invested a tremendous amount of resources into the Women's game (starting from grassroots, through the Provincial Structure all the way to giving contracts at national level, including the first National Academy for women's cricketers at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria, working with specialists in different fields such as batting/bowling/fielding/mental toughness/Analysts/Life Skills etc).

The L.A Dosage: Last year (2016) in February, you became the first South African woman to score 1,000 career runs in T20I against England. How did that feel for you and how did this boost your game thereafter?

Mignon Du Preez: It actually caught me by surprise. I didn't know I was even close to this milestone until I saw it up on the Big Screen myself. I think it just made me realize that this is just the start and now I am aiming for the 2000 run Milestone.

The L.A Dosage: Could you shed some light on some major positives that have happened in Women's cricket?

Mignon Du Preez: We have a contracted squad of 14 national players. Women's Cricket is becoming very professional and Australia and England are leading by example with their earnings players are able to live and maintain a professional lifestyle. (Unlike our male counterparts, South African female players have some way to go, to achieve that same status). The ICC Women's Championship got introduced (Finally all top 8 teams in the world) got to play Bilateral series' against each other). The introduction of T20 leagues such as WBBL (Big Bash) & KSL played in Australia and England. In recent publications, ICC promised to give men and female players the same treatment at Major ICC events (such as Meal Allowance, Single Rooms and flying Business Class).

The L.A Dosage: What other opportunities are there that women's cricket can offer today?

Mignon Du Preez: It is on route to becoming a viable career option. You get to travel and see other parts of the world and a National Academy can prepare you to compete with the best in the world. International T20 Leagues such as the Women's Big Bash League in Australia and the Kia Super League in England offers additional income potential whilst you display your skill amongst top international players. It gives you some visibility in order to obtain sponsorships.

The L.A Dosage: Any idea on any upcoming matches/series?

Mignon Du Preez: We have quite a busy schedule leading up to the ICC Women's World Cup 2017 in England from 26 June to 23 July. We just completed a series against Bangladesh. Then we have the ICC Women's Qualifiers in February in SriLanka. We then have a Quadrangular series (SA, India, Zim and Ireland) in SA in May. Lastly, we have a June training Camp in Ireland on our way to the ICC Women's World Cup in England.

The L.A Dosage: What is your next target or realistic goal that you've set for yourself this year in terms of your career?

Mignon Du Preez: I want to be part of the first South African Women's Cricket Team to bring an ICC Women's World Cup Trophy home – this year it is possible. . .

You can find Mignon on the following social media platforms to stay in touch with her cricket journey:

Twitter: @MdpMinx22

Instagram: @mdpminx22

That is a wrap from The L.A Dosage HQ. We wish Mignon the best of luck with her cricketing career and future endeavours. #WomenInSport