Despite an impressive season with the Proteas women's team, Kayla Reineke maintains a focus on achieving collective success rather than individual glory. She shared these thoughts in an exclusive interview with IOL following the Cricket South Africa (CSA) awards ceremony in Sandton on Thursday.
Reineke stated that her main goal is to represent her country at the highest level, striving for victories for South Africa and advancing the team as far as possible. She noted that receiving an award is a special moment concluding a successful season.
The twenty-year-old athlete was named Rookie of the Year in the CSA women's division after making a significant contribution in the short format. Playing primarily at number seven, Reineke demonstrated an impressive average of 32 runs across 11 T20I matches.
Although she could not have a decisive impact in two Women's T20 World Cup appearances, this is attributed to her inexperience at the highest level and the immense pressure associated with debuting in such a global tournament. Reineke links her rapid progress to the welcoming atmosphere created by the team's veterans, specifically mentioning the influence of Sune Luus and Chloe Tryon. She emphasized that senior players like Sune and Chloe help her feel comfortable, and that communication off the field is as important as gameplay.
Dewald Brevis, who received the 'Proteas Newcomer of the Year' award, stated his unwavering commitment to an aggressive playing style. He emphasized the importance of individuality within the team and noted the impressive growth of young talents in South African cricket.
Despite his daring and assertive approach to the game having drawn criticism in the past, Proteas wonderkid Dewald Brevis believes it is vital to continue playing naturally. In an exclusive interview with IOL after the Cricket South Africa (CSA) awards ceremony in Sandton, Brevis said: 'I think for me it is very important to always be Dewald because I believe we have a team full of amazing personalities that form the team, and everyone is unique in their own way.' He added that everyone needs to be themselves and play in their own style to reach the top.
At the event, Brevis received the 'Proteas Newcomer of the Year' award, which was a significant step in his developing career despite his youth. However, he is no longer the youngest player in the national squad. A new generation is actively emerging on the international stage, including 20-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Kwena Maphaka, who have also achieved success.
Brevis noted that the emergence of new talent is very inspiring for the Proteas, the country, and the world, especially for young players. He stressed that there are many more capable players ahead, demonstrating the strength of South Africa as a cricketing nation. When discussing mentors who guided his rise, Brevis mentioned drawing experience from many people. He specifically highlighted the help of AB de Villiers, as well as the influence of Sourav Ganguly from Pretoria Capitals, and his coach Deon Botes, whom he called wonderful.
Kayla Reineke, a versatile player for the Proteas Women's team, has had an incredible debut international season. She finds it hard to believe that her rapid rise in international cricket is not a dream.
At the age of 20, Reineke progressed from relatively unknown domestic cricket in the Western Province to becoming an integral part of the Proteas team in just six months. A former captain of the South African U-19 squad, she was always a contender for higher achievements, but it was her ability to perform in critical moments on the biggest stage that set her apart from her peers.
Notably, Reineke is the only athlete in the world to score winning runs with the last ball in both her T20I and ODI debuts. It was these performances that led to her being nominated for 'Newcomer of the Year in International Women's Cricket' and 'Player of the Year in International Women's T20' after her first international season.
In an exclusive interview with Independent Media, Reineke shared her thoughts: 'Of course, you dream about all this, but now you are doing it. It's like two different things.' She recounted that during preparations for the second half of the season in the Western Province, while the team was at a training camp with SA coaches, the situation changed. She was selected to participate in the series against Pakistan, and according to her, the coaches saw potential in her. 'I just kept working with them, and I am very grateful for these opportunities.'
The judges have yet to decide whether Reineke is a spinner who hits the ball hard or a batter capable of playing several useful overs. She hopes that by the end of next season, she will develop into a complete, true all-rounder. 'I would like to see myself as an all-rounder, not just a specialist in one thing,' she stated. 'I don't want to claim that I hit better or bowl better. Powerful shots are a nice bonus, a kind of reward at the end of a session. If you have had a really good and disciplined session, you can have a session with powerful shots. I just want to be a real all-rounder.'
A former junior provincial javelin champion, whose sporting experience is similar to that of Proteas teammate Tazmin Brits, believes that sharing a dressing room with legendary figures will accelerate her development early in her career. Reineke highly values the opportunity to be part of a squad that includes experienced captains such as Laura Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp, Dane van Niekerk, and Shabnim Ismail. 'It is truly a cool opportunity for young players to get into this environment and share the dressing room with them, especially with the experience they bring,' she noted. She emphasized that the value lies not only in playing in South Africa but also in participating in leagues around the world. 'Obviously, you want to learn as much as possible from them. You take what suits you and what they have learned over the years. It was great to have the chance to share the dressing room with them, especially during my first World Cup.'
The CSA Awards 2026 ceremony is scheduled to be a brilliant event taking place at the Sandton Convention Centre on Thursday evening.
