Mignon du Preez

• Mignon du Preez told a KFC Women’s Month webinar that Covid-19 impacted men’s and women’s cricket equally.
• The Proteas Women’s tour to England, set for September, was cancelled due to the South African government’s travel restrictions.
• Du Preez will have the consolation of playing in Australia’s Women’s Big Bash League.

Decorated Proteas Women batter Mignon du Preez says Covid-19’s indiscriminately impacted both men’s and women’s games equally.

Speaking at a KFC Women’s Month webinar, the former captain was asked what impact the pandemic had on women’s sports in comparison to men’s cricket.

Two weeks ago Proteas Women received bad news when their tour to England, scheduled for September, was cancelled due to the South African government’s travel restrictions.

The decision was criticised in some quarters as it robbed the women’s game of much-needed playing time as well as valuable exposure that would have been garnered due to the shortage of live cricket action still being felt.

Last week, Proteas star Chloe Tryon had told Sport24 that she was disappointed that the tour was cancelled.

“We’ve been fortunate enough to also return to training recently,” Du Preez said on Monday.

“We’ve just completed our second training camp and we had one earlier in July and yesterday (Sunday) completed our second one.

“Unfortunately, our tour got cancelled but that was a little bit more about our government [regulations] and our borders not being open just yet for international travel.

“I don’t really think it’s a male versus female thing or that Covid effects the one more than the other.”

The men’s team has also had their West Indies and India tours yanked off the schedule but it appeared, at least until August, that there would be respite for the women’s game, which still lagged well behind the men in coverage and touring opportunities.

On the flip side, eight South Africans have been called up to the Australian Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) starting in October, and yet again Du Preez will turn out for the Melbourne Stars, since first taking part in 2015.

It’s another feather in the 31-year-old’s cap, cementing her position as one of the most coveted South African cricket talents worldwide.

On Monday, she shared some of the life and cricketing lessons that helped her towards being the most capped South African T20 and ODI player in women’s cricket.

“Cricket might be an individual sport played in a team environment, but you can’t do it on your own,” Du Preez said.

“You need to find a way to celebrate other successes, as if they were your own. Team work is crucial for success and as the saying goes, there’s no I in team.

“The second life lesson for me was to have a strong support structure. It’s those unsung heroes that help professional athletes on their journey to the top.

“In your career, you might actually have more failed attempts than successes and you need coaches, friends and family around you that will encourage you to keep going when you feel like giving up.

“And there’s a saying that practice makes perfect. But I like to differ: only perfect practice makes perfect but practice makes permanent. So, you need to be concerned about quality of your training than the quantity. If you keep practicing the wrong thing, you’ll perfect it the wrong way.”

According to Cricket South Africa (CSA), Du Preez and company would be allowed to attend the WBBL.

“National teams are restricted from travelling but individual players competing in events deemed as work are permitted to travel subject to them being Covid-19 compliant in the country they are travelling to and upon their return to South Africa,” CSA said in a statement last week.

– Compiled by Sibusiso Mjikeliso