BULAWAYO: For as long as she can remember, cricket has been a major part of Caitlin Wyngaard’s life. From taking up the game at the age of seven and playing alongside boys to becoming one of South Africa’s promising young fast bowlers, her approach has remained fearless.
The 21-year-old Fidelity Titans seamer now finds herself on the verge of a possible international debut after receiving her maiden Proteas Women call-up for the first-ever T20 International (T20I) series against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo from 11-19 September.
The product of the Yesplay Western Province Cobras development structure discovered her love for fast bowling early, with Wyngaard admitting there was something about testing batters with ball in hand that immediately appealed to her.
“I don’t know, I just like hurting people with the ball. I still remember the first time I bowled against the boys. The coach was there, and I was just like, let’s try this.
“And then I tried, and I hit the boy in the net, and I was like, this is fun,” she recalled.
That fearless approach was developed from a young age, with the speedster crediting her father, Enver Wyngaard, for playing an important role throughout her cricketing journey.
“My dad, he played a very important role.
“I mean, I started when I was seven, playing with boys. He’s been my coach, that one. Every step of the way, he’s been there,” Wyngaard said.
The former Hendrik Louw Primary School and Strand High School pupil describes herself as “fearless and focused”, two qualities that have helped the right-arm seamer progress through the ranks at Western Province and within Cricket South Africa’s development pathway before moving north to the Titans following the 2025/26 Hollywoodbets Pro Series season. Despite missing out of the SA U19 Women’s squad for the inaugural ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 held on home soil, Wyngaard remains steadfast.
“Fearless and focused, and I give it my all. I am very serious when it comes to cricket. It’s always been there. It’s a big part of me.
“So I don’t take it lightly.”
Wyngaard is one of four uncapped players selected for the Zimbabwe tour alongside Luyanda Nzuza, Nthabiseng Nini and Jae-Leigh Filander, with the series providing the quartet with an opportunity to experience the senior international environment.
Although Wyngaard has previously spent time around members of the national squad as part of extended national training camps, she admits that stepping into the Proteas Women environment as a fully-fledged squad member has highlighted the standards required at the highest level.
“I will tell you, the standard is very high here.
“Coming in, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. And also, everyone’s chilled, everyone gels together. It’s very nice being around the team,” she added.
With five matches scheduled at Queen’s Sports Club in Bulawayo, Wyngaard will be hoping for the opportunity to receive her maiden Proteas Women cap and fulfil a dream that has been years in the making.
For a player who says cricket is everything to her, the prospect of walking onto the field as a senior international cricketer is not something she takes lightly.
“Cricket is like everything to me. That moment is going to be very, very, very important and special to me. It’s going to be a big thing, but I’m not going to cry.
“I just want to give my all. Leave everything out on the field. I don’t want to have any regrets and say I should have done that. That’s my main focus now,” Wyngaard concluded.
Proteas Women’s T20I Squad against Zimbabwe:
Laura Wolvaardt (captain, Fidelity Titans), Anneke Bosch (Fidelity Titans), Annerie Dercksen (Garden Route Badgers), *Jae-Leigh Filander (Western Province Cobras), Ayanda Hlubi (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Eliz-Mari Marx (Fidelity Titans), Karabo Meso (DP World Lions), Seshnie Naidu (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), *Nthabiseng Nini (Warriors), *Luyanda Nzuza (Fidelity Titans), Kayla Reyneke (Western Province Cobras), Nondumiso Shangase (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Miané Smit (Fidelity Titans), Faye Tunnicliffe (Western Province Cobras) and *Caitlin Wyngaard (Fidelity Titans)
*Uncapped
Fixtures – Proteas Women T20 Outbound Tour against Zimbabwe –
Friday, 11 September – Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
Zimbabwe vs South Africa at 13:30
Sunday, 13 September – Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
Zimbabwe vs South Africa at 13:30
Tuesday, 15 September – Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
Zimbabwe vs South Africa at 13:30
Thursday, 17 September – Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
Zimbabwe vs South Africa at 13:30
Saturday, 19 September – Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
Zimbabwe vs South Africa at 13:30
Source: cricket.co.za
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