Andrie Steyn, Current South African national women’s cricketer, has achieved massive success in her sports. However, despite this success, the athlete is in pursuit of obtaining a master’s degree at Stellenbosch University. Described as a ‘hard worker’, the athlete and student has earned the respect of her peers and teammates.
When she’s not representing the South African national side, Andrie Steyn plays opening batsman for the Western Province women’s cricket club. PHOTO: Isaac Ndlovu.
Oftentimes children are encouraged to dream and believe in whatever they want to become one day. However, somewhere along the line, as they grow older into our teenage years, they are taught to have a ‘Plan-B’, in case things don’t go their way. Andrie Steyn represents both those realities.
At just the age of seven years, Steyn recalls standing in front of her whole class, saying how she one day wants to play for the South African national cricket team.
“Most of them thought it was a phase that would probably pass,” the cricketer reflects.
“But I was obviously serious at the time and I’m fortunate to have got to where I am now,” she says.
Today, the 23-year-old has gone on to fulfil her dreams.
She received her first senior call up to the national team in 2014, representing South Africa in the T20 World Cup. Since then, Steyn has represented her country on multiple occasions.
In addition to this, the cricketer is also a full time master’s student in Sports Science at Stellenbosch University.
According to Steyn, when telling people she plays cricket for the national team, there are usually two reactions.
The first are the people who are surprised by the fact that a women’s cricket team exists. Then are those who are intrigued, asking questions
With a degree of success achieved in both her studies and academics, people are usually left scratching their heads.
Steyn’s ability to balance her academics and sports has inspired many, this was according to her Western Province club coach, Claire Terblanche.
“She’s a really dedicated player, in my opinion, one of SA’ women’s top batters,” Terblanche believes.
The Durban born cricketer’s journey began with her playing against boys. Upon being seen by one of her head coaches she was then sent to trials in Grade 4.
“That’s how I was introduced to women’s cricket,” she explains.
Since then, Steyn has gone on to play for the U/13, U/16/U/19 Northerns girls cricket side which, subsequently, led to her call up to the SA U/19 side in Grade 9.
“It was very nerve-wracking, suddenly playing with some of your role models,” says Steyn, who describes this moment as a great learning experience.
Despite disruptions caused by the Covid-19, Steyn and her team have gradually started to resume with training, they now prepare for future and upcoming fixtures. PHOTO: By Isaac Ndlovu.
Steyn the Cricket player
Terblanche, who was also a national team selector, has been coaching Steyn since 2018. The coach expresses nothing but praise for the cricketer.
According to Terblanche, Steyn has already achieved massive success in her career. One of these involves her international century against Ireland.
“She has made top scores both at provincial and national level,” says Terblanche.
Described as a ‘hard worker’ by her club coach, Steyn works day in and day out, with her studies, cricket career and even friendships.
“My sports and personal life always complement each other,” says Steyn.
“There are disciplines learned from my studies that I’ve been able to apply to my cricket career,” she says, mentioning time-management as one of them.
Current Western Province cricket coach Claire Terblanche and the club’s opening batsman, Andrie Steyn, at one of their training sessions. PHOTO: By Isaac Ndlovu.
According to the Steyn, many people have influenced her in different stages of her life.
“There have been multiple coaches in different stages of my career that have each made an impact, in their own way,” she says.
One of these people include current Western Province performance coach, Gabi-Lee Van der Westhuizen.
The two share an undergraduate degree in sports science from the University of Western Cape.
According to Van der Westhuizen, the 23-year old has a ‘fantastic cricket brain’.
“The youngsters in the team are constantly inspired by her work ethic,” she says.
Both Van der Westhuizen and Steyn ‘clicked’ in one of the most stressful times of Steyn’s life, explains Steyn’s performance coach.
When you do an [undergraduate degree], it’s a lot easier to manage your tours as opposed to when you are an honours or post-grad student
“A post-grad degree is a lot harder, simply because of the time that you need to dedicate to classes. Demanding hours are needed to spend studying, time management is needed for research,” she adds.
During this season, however, Van Der Westhuizen explained that though Steyn had some challenges she overcame them.
“Last season while she was doing her honours degree, Steyn was also playing a cricket series…. she won player of the series,” explains Van der Westhuizen, expressing how inspiring that was for the youngsters of the team.
“[Steyn continues to prove] that you can study and play international cricket,” she says.
Challenges bring unite
As much as she’s overcome the individual challenges Steyn has also had to face collective challenges.
According to the cricketer, a number of challenges have surfaced in South African women’s cricket.
“So much talent has been lost in South Africa, simply because ladies need to go and make a living before they can give 100% of their time to cricket,” she says.
According to Steyn, at club level there aren’t many contract opportunities to help support you financially.
This, explains Steyn, is one of the reasons why she continued with her studies.
I have been fortunate enough to study, and have a backup plan in place for myself, if cricket doesn’t work out the way I want it to
These are part of the many problems South African women face in cricket, she explains.
Steyn fellow Protea’s teammate, Faye Tunniciliffe, believes success, despite such challenges, has been as a result of good team chemistry.
“Each time we step onto the pitch, we put the badge first before ourselves. When we go into the field and score runs, the runs are for the badge not for yourself,” says Tunniciliffe.
This mentality has helped not just on an individual basis but also on a collective basis.
According to Steyn’s teammate, Faye Tunnicliffe, Steyn is always precise in what she’s doing, knowing the objectives of each day and what she wants to achieve within a session. PHOTO: By Isaac Ndlovu.
According to Tunniciliffe, there aren’t many things that Steyn does in life that aren’t calculated or for a greater goal.
“Sometimes players can come to practice for the sake of practicing. With her she always knows what she wants to do,” says Tunnicilliffe.
“And that as it sorts of motivates me to do the same,” the cricketer admits.
According to Steyn, cricket has taught her a lot, just like her studies.
“It’s taught me a lot about my own personality, perseverance, how to build relationships and to communicate with people from many different backgrounds,” Steyn adds.
For Steyn, the dream of living out what she once dreamt of being from age 7 is something worth cherishing. Not only did the cricketer achieve this but has also proven to many that it is possible to also academically excel while being the best in sports.
Steyn not only achieved plan A, but also proved to many that plan B can also be achieved.