logo
Veteran Reeza Hendricks eyeing Proteas future despite youth surge

Veteran Reeza Hendricks eyeing Proteas future despite youth surge

IOL News10-07-2025
Reeza Hendricks is determined to extend his international career despite the influx of young talent in the national set-up. Photo: BackpagePix
Image: Backpagepix
Reeza Hendricks will celebrate his 36th birthday next month, but the veteran Proteas batter is not ready to fade quietly into the background just yet.
Named in the squad for the upcoming T20 Tri-Series in Harare, alongside fellow senior Rassie van der Dussen, Hendricks forms part of a transitional South African side that also features rising stars such as 19-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius, 22-year-old Dewald Brevis and 23-year-old Nqaba Peter.
It will be Conrad's first assignment since taking over as South Africa's all-format head coach following Rob Walter's resignation earlier this year. But with a youthful squad signalling a changing of the guard, questions inevitably arise about the role of experienced players like Hendricks moving forward.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Ad loading
In an exclusive interview with Independent Media, Hendricks acknowledged the uncertainty.
'To date, I haven't had a proper conversation with (Conrad) as to what the plans are and how he sees me fit in the plans,' he said.
'There's a World Cup around the corner, and my aspirations would be to try to get to it. But I don't know what plans he has in mind and the players he's looking for.'
Despite the lack of clarity, Hendricks remains committed to his own path, stating he still feels fit, hungry and capable of contributing at the highest level.
Proteas Men's head coach Shukri Conrad has named a 14-player squad for the upcoming T20 International (T20I) tri-series against hosts Zimbabwe and New Zealand, set to take place in Harare from 14 - 26 July.
Rassie van der Dussen will captain the side, which features four maiden… pic.twitter.com/4TCWkqlIKE — Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) June 26, 2025
"I'm definitely in the latter part of my career now. But I do believe I can still play for quite a few more years, whether it be for the national team, domestic T20s, or whatever the case may be," he said.
'If everything goes according to plan – performances, body and all those types of things – I can push for another five years at least. You see guys playing to 40 nowadays. I don't know how old Faf (du Plessis) is – I think 41 – but I know it's doable.'
That longevity, however, depends largely on Hendricks maintaining peak physical condition. The right-hander has been hard at work on his fitness and training in preparation for what promises to be a challenging series in Zimbabwe.
'Age is not really on my side anymore. My main priority is to stay on top of my fitness level. That's what I've been doing — gym and all that — and then hitting balls and training in that regard these last couple of weeks,' he said.
Reeza Century Reactions!😱
The Proteas team shared their reactions to Reeza Hendricks first T20i century in last night's thrilling 7-wicket victory over Pakistan.🏏😮‍💨🤗
Safe to say they are just as stoked about it as he was!😁#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #SAvPAK pic.twitter.com/VlOKWcbabc — Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) December 14, 2024
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Bayanda Walaza wins Universiade 100m crown on profitable day for SA
Bayanda Walaza wins Universiade 100m crown on profitable day for SA

TimesLIVE

time5 hours ago

  • TimesLIVE

Bayanda Walaza wins Universiade 100m crown on profitable day for SA

Bayanda Walaza became the third South African to win the World Student Games 100m crown as he claimed South Africa's third gold medal of the 2025 showpiece in Germany on Tuesday night. The world junior champion crossed the line in 10.16sec as he downed Puripol Boonson of Thailand, the same man he beat at the under-20 global competition in Peru last year. Anaso Jobodwana was the first South African to win this crown in 2013 and Akani Simbine followed in 2015 — and now there's 19-year-old Walaza, who has added the Universiade title to his age-group crowns and Olympic 4x100m silver medal. But it wasn't all plain sailing for the Tshwane University of Technology student, who survived anxious moments in the semifinals. Walaza escaped a false start after one of his rivals twitched in his blocks before his own indiscretion. Then the field was called back for a faulty start and when they finally got under way for real at the third firing of the gun, Walaza didn't get away as cleanly as normal. But he did enough to win his heat by one-hundredth of a second. He made no mistake in the final to cap a profitable day for South Africa with no fewer than four medals on the day. In the women's 100m Gabriella Marais ended third in 10.51, seven-hundredths of a second behind Australia winner Georgia Harris. Colette Uys took bronze in the women's shot put with a heave of 17.34m, just 1cm in front of compatriot Mine de Klerk. Olivia Nel landed her third medal of the gala as she claimed bronze in the women's 50m backstroke in 27.91sec, breaking her own African record set earlier in the competition. Then she won the first semifinal heat of the women's 50m freestyle, clocking 24.96, the second-fastest time of the evening. Nel's podium finish added to the two bronze medals claimed in relay races, one of which she won alongside twin Georgia, in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay.

French-based star waiting for Kaizer Chiefs bosses
French-based star waiting for Kaizer Chiefs bosses

The South African

time7 hours ago

  • The South African

French-based star waiting for Kaizer Chiefs bosses

Kaizer Chiefs could very well add depth and quality to coach Nasreddine Nabi's 2025/26 Betway Premiership squad. ADVERTISEMENT Phiri, who previously played for clubs in France, Denmark, and Turkey, is one of several high-profile names being linked to Amakhosi. His technical ability and experience in Europe make him an appealing target for a Kaizer Chiefs side that has already made several key additions. While nothing has been finalised, Phiri has confirmed that discussions had taken place with Amakhosi before the club's pre-season tour. Amakhosi update: More new signings Kaizer Chiefs target Lebogang Phiri in action for EA Guingamp in France's Ligue 1. Image: lebophiri_6/Instagram With Thabo Cele, Sibongiseni Mthethwa, and Samkelo Zwane as the available options in the number six role, the 30-year-old Phiri would add unquestionable value. ADVERTISEMENT Kaizer Chiefs news: Flavio Antonio da Silva 'We had small talks with them, but I think it was the time they were going for a pre-season training camp abroad [in the Netherlands],' said Phiri via Soccer Beat. 'So, those [the negotiations] were stalled a bit. Hopefully, in the upcoming days, we will come up with something; if not, we will respect everybody who shows interest in me, whether it is locally or abroad,' the Johannesburg-born star concluded. Lebogang Phiri's Previous Clubs: ADVERTISEMENT Bidvest Wits Juniors Brondby U19s (Denmark) Brondby (Denmark) Guingamp (France) Rizespor (Turkey) Paris FC (France) Guingamp (France). In the meantime, Phiri's contract with Guingamp expired last month and no new deal has been tabled. SHOULD AMAKHOSI SIGN LEBOGANG PHIRI? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

Banyana Banyana's Wafcon title defence ends in heartbreak against Nigeria
Banyana Banyana's Wafcon title defence ends in heartbreak against Nigeria

IOL News

time7 hours ago

  • IOL News

Banyana Banyana's Wafcon title defence ends in heartbreak against Nigeria

Nigeria advance Nigeria's Rasheedat Ajibade celebrates with teammates after opening the scoring in their Women's Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against South Africa on Tuesday. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix The curtain fell on Banyana Banyana's reign as continental champions when they were beaten 2-1 by Nigeria in the semi-finals of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco on Tuesday night. With the game headed towards stoppage time with the scores level at 1-1, the Nigerians scored the winner deep in stoppage time through Michelle Alozie, breaking South African hearts in the process. Desiree Ellis' team will play the loser of the second semi-final – between Ghana and hosts Morocco – in the third-place play-off on Friday. Banyana began their tournament with a morale-boosting 2-0 win over Ghana earlier this month, and followed that up with a 1-1 draw against Tanzania, and a 4-0 thrashing of Mali last week Monday.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store