The magic of Marizanne Kapp

Marizanne Kapp celebrates her century (Getty Images)

 
“… Like you guys know, (my) first Test match was an absolute nightmare,” Marizanne Kapp laughed when she addressed the media at the end of Day 1 of the Test against England at the County Ground in Taunton. She had just recorded a career-best 150 – the highest individual score by a South African woman in Test cricket – and was justifiably upbeat. Her innings of 266 minutes and 213 balls had lifted her team from a precarious 89 for 5 to a respectable 284 all out by stumps, emphatically washing away those “terrible” memories of India and saving the Proteas from a path they had hurtled down on her debut 7 years, 7 months and 7 days ago.

…7-7-7 is a number used in American slot machines to identify a jackpot. Some call it the ‘angel number’ or ‘God’s number’: one that is expected to bring good luck, positive change and divine guidance; a sign that the universe is on your side.

When Kapp walked in to bat with South Africa reeling at 45 for 4 in under 18 overs, the universe seemed to be firmly against them. They were without the services of three of their senior players – two of whom were ruled out on the eve of the Test match – they had lost the toss and been asked to bat in slightly gloomy conditions, and were being put under pressure by a young, enthusiastic England seam contingent. Luck was really nowhere in sight.

But Kapp is a woman of immense faith; you only have to scroll through her social media feeds to understand that. So, if 7-7-7 were to work in anyone’s favour, you’d think it would be South Africa’s jersey no. 7.

And so, as she went about trying to resurrect South Africa’s innings, minute by minute, hour by hour, you could feel the visitors beginning to gain a foothold in a match that seemed to be slipping before it even began. By the end of the day, she had batted them into a position of relative strength – one in which they will begin Day 2 with their noses ever so slightly in front.

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Since January 2020 – a time during which South Africa have won six consecutive ODI series and reached the ODI World Cup semi-final – Kapp has averaged over 50 with the bat. During this time, one of her greatest strengths has been her ability to bat with the lower order. She uses her endless reservoirs of energy and belief to inspire confidence in her batting partners. It is something she did several times through the World Cup, helping South Africa clinch close victories, often marshaling the lower order through crucial phases of the innings. She has brought a consistency to her game that was previously missing, working hard on her skills and using her tactical acumen to find ways to succeed in different conditions. While the rankings may not reflect it, her performances under pressure have meant she is now seen as arguably the best allrounder in the world.

“I've always enjoyed my batting. I just feel like, at times, it's so difficult to focus on both bowling and batting.

“I've been working with some special coaches as well - that's really helped me on this journey and I think it's just the confidence is growing and that's probably why I am starting to play a lot better,” she said of her recent growth as a batter.

“I think it took one or two innings for me against some of the stronger teams (and) that just helped me cross that line. I think I should be good going forward now.”

On Monday, with South Africa in dire straits having lost skipper Sune Luus for a composed 26 shortly after lunch, Kapp took the reins and guided an inexperienced middle and lower order through the rest of the day. She did in Test cricket what she has become an expert at in the white-ball game. 

Marizanne Kapp was beaming at the end of day's play. (Getty Images)

 

When England had their tail up, she wore them down, blunting the seamers and nullifying the threat of Sophie Ecclestone with her supremely solid defensive game. Where South Africa's top-order batters were slightly tentative with their footwork, Kapp made sure, precise movements, often from well outside the crease, getting right forward or back and covering the line of the swinging, swerving Dukes ball, before knocking it to the ground. The right-hander’s slightly open stance helped her tackle inswing better than most. Her secret was a still head that allowed her to keep her foot inside the line, giving her better access to the ball. For a while, she farmed the strike, allowing debutante Anneke Bosch to feel her way into the innings, but once they found their range, South Africa made sure to slowly shift the pressure on to England.
 

It was not as if she shut shop and refused to score; for when provided even with a hint of width, she pounced like a hungry lioness. Her driving on the up was a thing of beauty – balanced stride forward, weight moving into the ball, and a mere knock on the head that saw the ball race to the boundary. If her back foot play against spin impressed in India, it was her front foot strokes that were the highlight on Monday.

Her processes were simple. Her methods repeatable. And her focus fixed on one very clear goal: to dig the team out of the hole they were in.

Settle into stance. Tap bat twice. Look up. Negotiate delivery. Call. Step aside towards square leg. Shadow a defensive stroke. Touch the top of both pads. Adjust helmet. Walk back towards the stumps. Check grip. And repeat.

She did it over, and over, and over. 213 times. Until she wore England down. Until she took South Africa to relative safety.

As Kapp grew in confidence, so did her partners. She fed them constant instructions in Afrikaans: a strong stroke was applauded and encouraged, and a false shot resulted in a stream of advice. Her words willed South Africa’s lower order on. She shared a 72-run stand with Bosch (30), a 42-run partnership with Nadine de Klerk (9), added 25 runs with Sinalo Jafta (4) and 49 more with Tumi Sekhukhune (9*). With every passing over, she allowed South Africa to gain more footing in the game. With every passing over, the her magic became stronger.

“I think it actually helps me a lot more than what it helped them,” Kapp said, when asked about her communication with the lower order. “Because if I focus on the other batter it seemed to take the pressure off me – that's what happened throughout the World Cup as well. So, I feel like when I give advice I kind of forget the situation we are in and it helps me focus a bit more.”

After tea, Kapp seemed to flick a switch, becoming more aggressive with ever delivery. She brought up her century with likely her streakiest shot of the day – an edge off Kate Cross that flew above the slip cordon and into the third man boundary.

Her celebration was muted. There was no roar or clenched fist that usually accompanies a Kapp wicket. Instead, she raised her arms up to the sky, a wide grin upon her face, and took a few steps towards the dressing room where her teammates applauded their saviour. A warm hug with Jafta was followed by a quick look towards the heavens, possibly a quick prayer and it was on to business again. 

 

Kapp negotiated Lauren Bell's booming inswing with utmost ease. (Getty Images)

 

Her hundred – only her second in international cricket – seemed to somewhat open the floodgates. She sliced Cross past point, crunched Ecclestone over mid-on, and slapped Lauren Bell through the previously unexplored leg side. She farmed the strike expertly, and England seemed to have no answers.

It was a reflection of how well she knew her own game, how aware she was of her options and how much confidence she has gained as a batter.

Kapp’s innings was ended by a moment of sheer brilliance from Tammy Beaumont, who, stationed at mid-off, took a few steps to her right, before leaping in the air to intercept a powerful lofted drive off Bell. It seemed a fitting end to an incredible knock.

As the crowd stood to applaud an extraordinary show of focus, fight and fluency, England broke their celebration to congratulate Kapp. The allrounder, meanwhile, was busy having a word with Sekhukhune – more instructions needed to be passed. Her job was not done. She would soak in the applause when she was finished helping out her teammates.

After a quick word with the incoming batter, Nonkululeko Mlaba, and handshakes from a few of England’s players, Kapp trudged off with her bat raised. A smile played on her lips. You could see the pride in her face. She had seen the team across the river. She had turned their luck herself.

Now, on Day 2, after an opportunity to rest, Kapp will lead the Proteas’ charge with the ball. In her own words, she knows it will be a tough task to restrict a strong England line-up. If South Africa are to take a lead, it is their jersey No.7 who will have to find some more magic up her sleeve. The rest, as they did on Monday, will play able support roles. But Kapp will be at the centre of it all; the one who can turn the universe in the Proteas’ favour.