NEW DELHI: New Zealand cricketer Bernadine Bezuidenhout announced her retirement from international cricket, concluding a career that saw her represent both South Africa and New Zealand. The 30-year-old wicketkeeper-batter cited work-life balance and a desire to focus on her sports project as key factors in her decision.
Bezuidenhout’s journey in international cricket began in 2014, representing South Africa in four ODIs and seven T20Is. In 2015, she relocated to Christchurch, New Zealand, and after fulfilling a two-year residency requirement, made her debut for the White Ferns in 2018.
Her international career with New Zealand spanned 16 ODIs and 22 T20Is, including an appearance in the recent 2023 T20 World Cup. The recently concluded T20 World Cup marked a significant comeback for Bezuidenhout, who had been sidelined for nearly two years due to RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport).
Despite her passion for the game, Bezuidenhout acknowledged the challenges of balancing her cricket career with her work commitments. In her retirement statement, she expressed a desire to dedicate her energy to “The EPIC Sports Project,” a venture close to her heart.
“I’ve struggled to find a balance between my work and playing career for a while now,” Bezuidenhout stated. “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.”
Bezuidenhout’s final international appearance for New Zealand came earlier this year during the home series against England. She participated in five of the six white-ball matches before a hamstring injury forced her out of the series.
New Zealand head coach Ben Sawyer expressed gratitude for Bezuidenhout’s contributions to the team, both on and off the field. He praised her cricketing skills and her positive influence within the group.
“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,” Sawyer commented.
(Inputs from ANI)
Bezuidenhout’s journey in international cricket began in 2014, representing South Africa in four ODIs and seven T20Is. In 2015, she relocated to Christchurch, New Zealand, and after fulfilling a two-year residency requirement, made her debut for the White Ferns in 2018.
Her international career with New Zealand spanned 16 ODIs and 22 T20Is, including an appearance in the recent 2023 T20 World Cup. The recently concluded T20 World Cup marked a significant comeback for Bezuidenhout, who had been sidelined for nearly two years due to RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport).
Despite her passion for the game, Bezuidenhout acknowledged the challenges of balancing her cricket career with her work commitments. In her retirement statement, she expressed a desire to dedicate her energy to “The EPIC Sports Project,” a venture close to her heart.
“I’ve struggled to find a balance between my work and playing career for a while now,” Bezuidenhout stated. “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.”
Bezuidenhout’s final international appearance for New Zealand came earlier this year during the home series against England. She participated in five of the six white-ball matches before a hamstring injury forced her out of the series.
New Zealand head coach Ben Sawyer expressed gratitude for Bezuidenhout’s contributions to the team, both on and off the field. He praised her cricketing skills and her positive influence within the group.
“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,” Sawyer commented.
(Inputs from ANI)