Bernadine Bezuidenhout South African cricket has decided to take a break from international cricket as she announced her retirement from the international format. She had been part of the New Zealand team before she announced her retirement. Before the announcement, She played 4 ODIs and 7 T20Is for South Africa and 16 ODIs and 22 T20Is for New Zealand.
| Category | Details |
| Full name | Bernadine Michelle Bezuidenhout |
| Born | 14 September 1993 |
| Place of birth | Kimberley, Northern Cape, South Africa |
| Age | 30 |
| Batting | Right-handed |
| Role | Wicket-keeper |
Bernadine Bezuidenhout and her Retirement
She exclaimed that the journey to today has been a great path and a great ride. She said in a New Zealand Cricket statement.
“Playing for the White Ferns has been a huge privilege and honor and it’s left me with the fondest memories. The journey has taught me so much and I’ll be forever grateful to everyone who has been on the path with me.”
News | Wicket-keeper batter Bernadine Bezuidenhout has called time on her international playing career. Full media release below. #CricketNationhttps://t.co/kHKfWPKUCY
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) May 31, 2024
Opening up about the decision, Bernadine said that it was getting difficult for her to find the balance between her life and cricket. She said while expressing happiness with her decision- “I’m at peace with this decision but it wasn’t an easy one to make. I’ve struggled to find a balance between my work and playing career for a while now, and after a lot of thought and reflection I feel that it’s the right time to pivot and put my full focus on The EPIC Sports Project,”
Reason for the Retirement
As per the official statement released by New Zealand Cricket (NZC), Bernadine wasn’t getting much time for her personal life and was unable to find a balance with her work commitments. In her expressed desire she said that she really wants to work and dedicate her energy to “The EPIC Sports Project,” a venture close to her heart.
Bernadine Bezuidenhout Career
Before being picked up by New Zealand she was part of the South African team and played four ODIs and seven T20Is for South Africa before switching over to New Zealand, whom she represented in 16 ODIs and 22 T20Is.
Bernadine Bezuidenhout has had a notable career in women’s cricket, playing 20 WODI (Women’s One Day International) and 29 WT20I (Women’s Twenty20 International) matches. She scored 291 runs in WODIs with a batting average of 19.40, and her highest score was 86.
Bernadine Retirement and Coach Remarks
Bernadine Bezuidenhout announces retirement at 30.
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) May 31, 2024
She played 4 ODIs and 7 T20Is for South Africa and 16 ODIs and 22 T20Is for New Zealand. #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/wBklrUY6aQ
New Zealand head coach Ben Sawyer expressed gratitude towards her presence and remarkable cricket journey where she has been a pillar of strength both on and off the field, and also praised her cricket skills and positive influence on the team.
He said- “I want to thank Bernie for the contributions she’s made to the White Ferns on the field, and for the caring qualities she brought to the group off the field. We’re proud of the work that Bernie does outside of cricket and I have no doubt she’ll continue to make a positive impact on the lives of many.”
Although she would be available to play domestic cricket and home tournaments.
