Proteas women’s stars Lee, Van Niekerk honoured by Wisden

Proteas women’s cricketers Lizelle Lee and Dané van Niekerk have been honoured by Wisden.

Van Niekerk, the regular women’s team’s captain, was named as one of the famous almanack’s five cricketers of the year for 2021.

The prestigious award, which dates back to 1889 and predominantly recognises performances from the previous English summer, was also handed to Ollie Robinson, Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma and Devon Conway.

Van Niekerk, who missed the recent World Cup in New Zealand because of injury, was the big star of last year’s Hundred, when she led the Oval Invincibles to the title.

Proteas opener Lee, who was recently named Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year for 2021, was also honoured by the famous English cricket publication.

Lee was named leading women’s cricketer in the world – the first South African to hold the title.

Meanwhile, Joe Root was named as Wisden’s leading cricketer in the world, just a week after he stepped down as England’s Test captain.

Root quit last week after five years as England skipper following a dismal run of one win in 17 games.

But his impeccable form with the bat in 2021, when he scored 1,708 runs at an average of 61, helped him earn the global award.

Root succeeds his own potential successor with the national side, Ben Stokes, who took the honour in 2019 and 2020.

Root is the third Englishman to receive the accolade since it was launched in 2003, with Andrew Flintoff the first in 2005.

With AFP