Reeza Hendricks is a South African cricketer who has established himself as one of the best batsmen in the shorter format of the game. The right-arm midfielder from the Highveld Lions has become a regular in the South African Men’s National Cricket Team. Hendricks has been a household name for a while, and his consistent performances have made him a fan favourite. In this article, we will discuss the life and career of Reeza Hendricks, taking a closer look at his accomplishments on and off the ground while also looking at world cricket latest news.
Early Life
Reeza Hendricks was born on 14 August 1989 in Kimberly, Cape Province, South Africa. He grew up playing cricket in his hometown and represented the Griqualand West cricket team in the 2015 Africa T20. Reeza’s talent was recognized at a young age and was part of the South African team during the 2008 U19 World Cup. However, he failed to deliver the expected results and struggled to establish himself in the team. Nevertheless, he continued to hone his skills and made his domestic debut for the Lions in 2010 and has been a part of the team ever since then.
Domestic Career
Reeza has made a name for himself in the domestic circuits of South Africa and it was his performances in the domestic circuits that earned him a call up to the national side. Starting his career with Griqualand West, he made his first-class debut in 2006. After a short stint with the Knights, he joined the Lions in 2010.
During Ram Slam T20 Challenge 2017-18, Hendricks scored his first century in a T20 match. It was a magnificent 102 not out for Lions against Dolphins. Reeza went on to finish the tournament as the leading run-scorer, with 361 runs from eight games.
Hendricks became the first player to score century in all three franchise competitions in South Africa in the same season in 2018. He achieved this magnificent feat during the stints of 2017-18 Ram Slam T20 challenge, Sunfoil Series 2017-18 and the Momentum One Day Cup 2017-18. During this season, Hendricks was in a red hot form and scored bulk of runs.
After his stellar season in 2017-18, he also became a part of the Jozi Stars squad for the inaugural Mzansi Super League T20 tournament in 2018. Continuing his form, he scored back to back hundreds in the tournament. He went to score 412 runs making him the third highest run getter of the tournament. His excellent performances with the bat eventually helped the Jozi Stars to lift the trophy.
International Career
Hendricks had made his international debut even before his stellar season of 2017-18. On November 5, 2014, he played his debut T20i match against Australia with a cap number of 61. However, Hendricks was dismissed for a duck in his opening game, but the team management persisted with him. Later, he scored some runs in Australia and West Indies but wasn’t able to showcase his real talent. He was eventually dropped from the team. He hasn’t been a regular part of South Africa’s t20 team, despite performing well in domestics.
Hendricks made his ODI debut on August 5, 2018, against Sri Lanka. He became the third batsman for South Africa and fourteenth overall to score a century on ODI debut with his 88-ball century. His century on debut also earned him a man of the match award. Hendricks was then persisted with as an opener for the 2018 season, but his inconsistent performances saw him being replaced by Aiden Markram, who was having a purple patch in List A matches.
Reeza hasn’t been able to represent the South African team in Red Ball format yet. However, he has played 27 ODI matches scoring over 694 runs with an average of 27.76. He also has a hundred to his name and has also scored 5 fifties. In the 50 T20i matches he has played, he has scored 1544 runa at a healthy average of 31.5 with a decent strike rate of 131. He has also scored 13 fifties during these matches.
Hendricks continues to be part of the South African squad in the shortest format of the game. His ability to find the gaps in the power plays and score quick runs makes him a valuable asset to the team. If he brings a touch of consistency in his game, he will definitely become an important part of South Africa squad.
Career Highlights
Reeza Hendricks has had several highlights in his career so far. One of the most significant highlights of Hendricks’ career came in 2018 when he scored a century on his ODI debut against Sri Lanka. He became the third batsman for South Africa, and fourteenth overall, to achieve this feat, with his 88-ball century. This innings also earned him the Man of the Match award.
Another noteworthy achievement for Hendricks was becoming the first player to score a century in all three franchise competitions in South Africa in the same season.
Conclusion
Reeza Hendricks is undoubtedly one of the most talented batsmen in the South African cricket team. He has shown his class and skill with the bat in all formats of the game, but his performances in T20 cricket have been particularly impressive.
Hendricks has faced some inconsistency in his international career, but he continues to be a vital member of the South African squad in the shortest format. His domestic performances have been nothing short of phenomenal, and he is an integral part of the Highveld Lions squad.
If Reeza Hendricks can find the consistency that has eluded him at times in his international career, there is no doubt that he has the potential to become one of the world’s best batsmen. His natural talent and ability to score runs in any situation make him a player to watch out for in the future.
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