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21 Questions: Dane Van Niekerk

by Wisden Staff

South Africa’s leg-spinning allrounder Dane van Niekerk tackles our increasingly silly 21 Questions.

Describe yourself in one word.
Humorous

What words or phrases do you most overuse?
‘Obviously’ and ‘Like I said’

What is your most marked characteristic?
My humour, I guess

If you could edit your past, what would you change?
I probably would have started studying right after I’d finished Matric [final year of high school]

What is your idea of happiness?
Family, my partner, love

What’s your ideal sandwich?
In South Africa we do plain, white bread with just butter and biltong. It’s amazing

Which living person do you most admire and why?
That’s a tough one. I serve the living God so I’d have to say him

What has been your biggest disappointment?
Losing in the 2014 World T20 semi-final against England

What piece of advice would you give to your 16-year-old self?
Start eating healthier!

If you were an animal, what would you be?
A lion. You have to be. They’re the king of the jungle

What is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen?
Hmm… let’s go Table Mountain

England Women v South Africa Women - NatWest Women's International T20

Dane on the smash

What becomes of the broken hearted?
They die

What’s wrong with the world?
We have no idea, that’s the problem!

Which three people would you invite to your dream dinner party?
I’ll go with Nelson Mandela. I need somebody to give me some music so I’ll go Calvin Harris, just for that. And my grandfather who passed away. I’m cooking steak, rare steak

Whose windows would you most like to smash?
Donald Trump’s

What song would you have playing when walking out to bat?
At this moment I’ll go for This Is What You Came For by Calvin Harris and Rihanna. I absolutely love it

Who would you like to play you in a film of your life?
Tough one. You don’t want to big yourself up too much but you don’t want to go too far the other way… let’s say Charlize Theron, because she’s South African. I reckon she could nail the leggies, she’s very talented. The googly’s going to have to take some practice!

If you could be one other cricketer for a day, who would you be?
AB. I just want to know what he does right when he bats. He’s a freak

What’s your ultimate pet hate?
Rude people who don’t respect others

What was the first record you bought?
Britney Spears – Hit Me Baby One More Time

Who’s your ultimate fictional hero?
Thor. I love Chris Hemsworth

The ICC Women’s World Cup Final is coming to the home of cricket – Lord’s Cricket Ground – on 23 July 2017. The ticket ballot for the WWC17 Final opens on 20 October 2016. For tickets, visit www.ecb.co.uk/register >>

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