Nadine de Klerk

Cricket wasn't always Nadine de Klerk's sport of choice. She excelled in field hockey and the javelin throw as a child. But when she was called up to the national side for the first time, at the age of 17, she made her choice. Since then, it has paid dividends - she has earned over 100 international caps, and also played key roles in the WPL, the WBBL and The Hundred.

De Klerk's grit has often been at the forefront of her performances, best exemplified by the time she re-entered the side in the semi-final of the 2020 T20 World Cup - she delivered three wickets for just 19 runs against an Australia side at the peak of its powers.

She made her international debut in 2017 against India, and was fully integrated in the team by the next year. De Klerk has since developed into one of the most explosive hitters in the South Africa line-up as well as one of its most reliable pacers. In an ODI series against Pakistan in September 2023, she scored a 60 - the only innings of note while South Africa crumbled around her - in one game, and bowled a spell of 4 for 32, her best figures till date, in another on her way to a Player-of-the-Series award-winning performance. She finished the year with 181 runs and 16 wickets from nine matches.

In the 2025 ODI World Cup, she was the point of difference on more than one occasion as she dragged South Africa from the brink of defeats to another final appearance. Still, her best might not have come yet, something that bodes well for South Africa.