Women in sport: The First Lady of firsts

Mignon du Preez has spent much of her long and successful career not only ensuring she became one of the most respected batters in international cricket but also, as someone who captained South Africa on 97 occasions, she was an intermediary for her fellow women professionals in their efforts to gain more equitable treatment.

Not only is Du Preez a tremendous cricketer but a great leader, much admired and loved.

So it was only fitting when SuperSport Park, her home ground in Centurion, recently decided to honour her with the unveiling of The Mignon du Preez Gates.

In a career that is full of firsts, Du Preez acknowledged how special it was for her to be the first cricketer – male or female – to have gates named after them at the famous Test venue.

“This is really special for me, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this happening. To have a beautiful gate named after me at a world-class facility like SuperSport Park leaves me lost for words, especially to be the first cricketer to be honoured like this. I hope I’m not the last and I hope other stadiums will follow suit, I hope there are lots of girls to follow in my footsteps,” Du Preez said.

The Mignon du Preez Gates are opposite the road (Thea Avenue) that leads to the Doringkloof Primary School, where it all started for the Pretoria-born 29-year-old.

Photo: Facebook.

“I started playing cricket when I was four and SuperSport Park was practically my home. My primary school is just around the corner and this gate is opposite the road that goes there! Today is close to the top moment in my career and it’s very memorable to be able to share it with my loved ones, because I come from a really cricket-mad family.

“Unfortunately my Dad could not be with us today because he’s away with the Northerns Over-55 indoor cricket team. But my 89-year-old grandma is here and the encouragement and support of my family and my husband Tony, has brought me here. It’s my 20th year of playing for Northerns and thank you for all you do to promote women’s cricket. Without those opportunities you create there would be no Proteas,” Du Preez said.

Du Preez was marked out as a future star from a young age, scoring a double-century in a 40-over game as a 12-year-old schoolgirl.

She hit 16 sixes and 25 fours in an innings of 258, with a strike-rate of over 200, in a provincial U13 match against Gauteng.

Five years later she was playing for the Proteas, making her debut at Harlequins Club in Pretoria on January 22, 2007, and scoring 13 against Pakistan.

Du Preez was like the female version of a Jonty Rhodes – a busy, innovative batter and magnificent in the field.

Since then, the women’s national team has become a much more important part of the South African cricket system; no more games at club grounds for them.

“We now have the support structures there to help us become the best but most importantly, to also help us through the downs. We also play and travel a lot more now and I reached a point this year when I thought it might be enough now for the first time when I spent more time on tour than I did at home!

“But it’s great that the ICC Women’s Championship now allows us to play one or two games against the best in the world every year and there has been a real shift in South African cricket in terms of supporting the women’s game,” Du Preez said.

Apart from winning a World Cup, there is little Du Preez has left to prove in her career that has seen her score nearly 5000 runs in 208 appearances for South Africa. But she is still hungry for more.

“I definitely have another 50-over World Cup in me in 2021 and in 2022 the T20 World Cup might be here, so in an ideal world that might be a nice way to finish. I feel like I’m close to my peak now though, I feel I’m hitting the ball the best I ever have, but we still haven’t had that success as a team, so there’s still room for improvement.

“I’ve definitely matured as a cricketer now and I feel I still have a lot to offer. Personally, I’d like to move into the top-10 of the world rankings and if all goes well, even the top-five. I want to be a matchwinner for South Africa and just a positive influence. Playing for the Proteas have been the best times of my life, and I hope I keep performing well enough to be in the team,” Du Preez said.

With her place in South African cricket legend assured, when Du Preez does finally call it a day in terms of playing, it would not be a surprise to see this humble, genial person finding a little spot on the grass banks of SuperSport Park, in front of her own gates, to watch the game she has contributed so much to and loves so much.

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