From the desk of Caressa Govender
Summerhill sports coach, Jana Du Plooy, has been selected for the World Cup Action cricket national women’s team. Thirteen women will travel to India next year to verse six other countries, including India and Sri Lanka at the international event.
Du Plooy has represented South Africa on several other occasions since 2009. The
talented all rounder explains that Action cricket comes with its own set of rules and challenges. “It is played indoors with eight members per side. The challenge is that every team member must be a skilled batter, bowler and fielder in a more confined space than regular cricket matches,” said Du Plooy.
Practice sessions are demanding and Du Plooy, together with other selected members of the squad will spend up to 20 hours a week in preparation for the World Cup. Du Plooy’s interest in cricket began at the age of 18 when she started playing action cricket with her dad. “I was always sporty and enjoyed both hockey and athletics but my interest in cricket started later. I played club cricket in Edenvale before travelling to Australia and New Zealand to play two other World Cups,” she said.
Action cricket consists of quick paced matches of 16 overs per innings with every player batting for four overs and bowling for two overs. It requires high levels of fitness but is generally more sociably enjoyable for those playing and watching due to the length of the game.
Du Plooy is excited about the prospect of training girls at Summerhill to follow in her footsteps. “Summerhill has extremely talented girls and we have started versing other all male teams with Co-ed teams as there are not many other schools that
have girls who are interested in cricket. As a coach, I would like to nurture the girl’s talent and give them a platform to compete,” she said.
The staff and students at Summerhill School would like to wish Coach Jana all the best on her World Cup journey..
