If Mignon du Preez, who’s called time on her ODI and Test career, pauses to look back at all she’s achieved, she can be proudest of the fact that she became the epitome of respect in South African cricket, writes Dev Tyagi.
March 22, 2019, was anything but an ordinary date in the life of cricket. A massive moment that took place in the heart of South Africa would reverberate- and sweetly so- everywhere, where this sport has given great meaning to lives and perhaps become life in itself to so many.
The occasion was memorable and all eyes were fixated on the proceedings at the famous SuperSport Park.
Centurion, usually known for its prime Golf estates and mega shopping centres, was brimming with cricket, even though no live game was taking place at the remarkable venue.
A large swathe of media was present at a cricket ground where legends like De Villiers, Kallis, Steyn, Cronje (among the many) have previously produced magic, whether with bat or ball.
But interestingly, at the centre of several shutterbugs, was a steel structure comprising precast concrete. It would carry mighty significance.
Mr Tebego Siko, President of the NCU (Northern cricket union) was present at the occasion as was Dr Jacques Faul, the respected CEO (NCU).
But it’s who stood in the midst of the two distinguished gentlemen, the personality posing right in front of the lanky structure that marked the significance of the ceremony.
Just a few minutes back, Cricket South Africa had inaugurated the Mignon du Preez gate at the sensational cricketing venue.
And posing in a bright white skirt with a contented look on her face was the one after whom the famous gate of the SuperSport ground is named: Mignon du Preez herself.
Not a figure with self-inflated pride, not the one to throw starry airs either, Mignon was her usual modest and smiling self.
It’s how she’s played cricket for so many years. It’s how she’s conducted herself in life beyond the pitch or stadia: with a sense of earnestness and simplicity.
This is why the respect for one of cricket’s finest ambassadors’ commands is only likely to increase with the passage of time.
No woman prior to South Africa’s resolute batter has ever had a cricket stadium’s gate named after her. A few may go on to have totemic decorations. But it’s highly possible that while some may equal the mark of respect Mignon du Preez commands, none will come to dethrone or supersede her place.
And probably that is the mark of true success anyway; it’s not runs hit; fifties gathered; centuries struck alone.
It all boils down to respect in the end. In that regard, as Mignon du Preez, who’s called time on her ODI and Test career, pauses to look back at all she’s achieved- and she’s achieved a great deal- she can be proudest of the fact that she became the epitome of respect.
A talent lauded by her teammates and well-liked by her direct opponents.
In a career that spanned 15 years and is still going to serve South Africa in T20Is, Mignon has come a long way from being the teenage girl sporting braces who burst out in international cricket aged 17 and a half, to being a pillar of inspiration to names such as Laura Wolvaardt, Sinalo Jafta, Lara Goodall and Tumi Tumi Sekhukhune.
Hers has been a journey of rising to prominence at blitz speed; she’d captain the national side across T20Is and ODIs, not very long after marking her debut.
During her tenure as captain, Mignon would solidify her batting, significantly improve her fielding and work intricately toward getting the side to gel closely as one unit.
A squad marked by talents hailing from different cultures within South Africa but competing for a unified goal: to spark a revolution in Proteas Women’s cricket.
And in doing all of this, whilst confronting different turnstiles of cricket, Mignon can be proud of amassing no fewer than 3,760 ODI runs (with 2 hundreds and 18 fifties) as well as 1,750 T20I runs (with 7 fifties).
That she’s struck each one of those runs with positive intent, giving everything to her team’s cause should be the real reward of what has been a beautiful journey.
Mignon du Preez, who arrived in 2007, a time when cricket didn’t know of anyone whether a Smriti Mandhana, Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin, Hayley Matthews, Sneh Rana, Sidra Ameen or Charlie Dean, exits the game with newer faces all around, whether it’s Laura Wolvaardt, Muneeba Ali, Pooja Vastrakar, Shafali Verma and Cherry-Ann Fraser, to name just a few.
During all these times, when women’s cricket underwent tremendous transformation; assuming a new identity and reformed shape thanks to the T20 revolution, hitting lofty eyeballs with the successful 2017 ODI World Cup, Mignon du Preez was one of the constant or unwavering figures in the sport.
She would be one of the few you could go to, even from the opposition on an odd or rough day for solace and wise words, not the one you’d sledge or keep angst or temper about.
Furthermore, one of the things that would set her apart from so many around her would be her sense of retaining sanity, a befitting example of which would be two ODI World cups, one in 2017 and the other, the recent 2022 edition.
Back in 2017, when Heather’s knights overcame Dane Van Niekerk-led South Africa at Gloucestershire, with just two deliveries to go, the Proteas captain was inconsolable. Kapp was broken, Luus in tears and Lee and Chetty buried in silence.
But the person who was quick to console her teammates, wrapping her arms around a unit that had fought valiantly was Migon du Preez, also the highest scorer in the huge semi-final contest (from either side). Her 76 runs anchored Proteas to a total they could at least defend.
Five years down the line and we saw another semi-final.
When 1 was needed off the final delivery in the nail-biter against India, Mignon steered the storm and got her team home.
No wild celebrations followed. No loud drama, no fanatical celebrations; just a happy hop above the ground, a punch in the air to mark the win and then gladly walking back to the dugout.
What ought to be remembered is that Du Preez had scored, once again, an unbeaten fifty.
That would remain, as we now know it, her final ODI appearance for South Africa.
On the one hand, while it’s terribly sad to know that Mignon’s called time at just 32, with at least, three more years left in her- if not more- to give her nation, what also offers relief is that she’s available for T20I selection.
For someone who’s walked hand-in-hand with changing times, adjusting her game to her team’s demands accordingly, Mignon’s determined to contribute to the format that’s giving Cricket a global foothold and becoming the passport for the sport to trade and travel freely.
That one of Cricket’s unwavering symbols of consistency and integrity is still around to serve this beautiful transition must make us smile a great deal more than remaining sad about the fact that she won’t play Tests and ODIs anymore!
Keep batting O proud daughter of South Africa!
