EXCLUSIVE: “Never Let Anything Or Anyone Come In Your Way And You Can Achieve Anything That You Want To”- Anneke Bosch

Anneke Bosch is a force of nature in women’s cricket—a dynamic South African batter who combines resilience and determination with a profound scientific understanding of the sport. As a biokineticist and sports scientist, Bosch’s approach to cricket transcends mere athleticism.

In a freewheeling chat with Women’s CricInsight, Bosch opened up about her experiences and challenges, reflecting on her career in a candid and engaging conversation that paints a vivid picture of her journey in cricket.

Opening in the One-Off Test Against India

The one-off Test against India was a significant milestone in Bosch’s career. Opening the innings in a Test match was a new challenge for her, and despite the tough conditions, she relished every moment of it. “It was an amazing experience. I’m really happy to have been part of it. It was tough and we knew it was going to be tough,” she recalled with enthusiasm.

“India is a really good team, and the heat was intense. We knew it was going to be tough. But I think we handled it quite well and we are very proud of ourselves for how we handled it, how we played and how we went about it. It was cool to be part of it and opening is kind of a new thing for me.”

Bosch’s transition to Test cricket wasn’t seamless, as she admitted that her instincts from white-ball cricket occasionally crept in. “I did it in Australia also with the test, but that was also kind of unexpected to open but it was good,” she explained.

“It was a good challenge and I enjoyed the challenge. Unfortunately, it didn’t go as well for me personally as I would have hoped. But it was good fun and was a good experience.”

Talking more about the value and significance of test cricket, she said, “I don’t think I’ve played enough of this cricket to say that it’s my favourite format. This is only like my third taste match. I really do like it and I would love for us to play it more. It definitely takes a lot more patience and it’s difficult sometimes like you just sometimes you’re old at not all that, but you have it like white-ball cricket or your shots or the way you want to play in white-ball cricket, sneaks in during a ball cricket or they toss the ball up and you think now you’re going to slog sweep or you’re going to, but it’s not always the right idea.”

“I like the challenge and the fact that there is no pressure on scoring-wise. It is really a test between bat and ball and it’s a taste of four days mentally, physically, tactically, technically like in every aspect it’s a taste and that’s really cool and I enjoy the challenge.”

Learning from the ODI Series Against India

The ODI series against India was another tough assignment for Bosch and her team as they slipped to a 0-3 loss. Although South Africa couldn’t clinch the series, Bosch emphasized the importance of finding positives in every experience. 

“There’s some positives taken out of it. It’s always positive. I think even though it goes badly or it doesn’t go the way you want it to go or you plan it to go, there’s always something positive to take out of it. I think out of that second game that was so close, there’s obviously really a lot we can take from that and a lot of positives and just the way we went about it after the first game that we lost so far and just to come back and still fight and that’s confidence in our skills and our abilities,” she said.

“There’s a lot to work on, a lot to improve on, a lot to still learn and especially playing in these conditions. India is a really good team, and we learned a lot from those close matches. There’s always room for improvement, and we’re taking those learnings forward,” she quipped.

Navigating Confidence Amidst Challenges

Bosch’s journey hasn’t been without its ups and downs, and she candidly discussed how she manages her confidence, especially when performances don’t meet her expectations. 

“I’ve been feeling good, like coming into India, I’ve been feeling quite positive and confident and really excited. Unfortunately, the games didn’t go as well as I would have liked to go. I guess not as confident as I can be or should be at the moment,” she reflected.

“Cricket is a funny game, and you’re not always going to score runs. You can’t let performances and games affect your confidence too much. it’s just how you get out of that dip or that low or that maybe lack of scoring and just all believing in yourself and having that confidence knowing that you can do what you’re supposed to do.”

Preparing for Spin: Eyes on the T20 World Cup

With the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh on the horizon, Bosch has been hard at work refining her skills against spin. “We’ve been working on it a lot, especially with our new batting coach,” she shared.

“With the T20s, I enjoy playing spin usually in conditions that is nice to play spin in. Sometimes it’s more difficult in India to play spin obviously. But usually I enjoy playing spin. But T20 game, it’s easily exciting and it can go anyway and there’s like one ball, one over that can change the game completely. Where I think in the longer format it takes more moments or more key moments in the game to actually turn it towards your favour or the other team’s favour. But T20 cricket can change so quickly and the main term shifts so quickly and you basically never know what’s going to happen until the last ball.”

“It takes only one player or two to change the direction of the game or to make a massive influence on the game. It’s more unpredictable and everything happens quicker and you never know what to expect. So it’s exciting to go into the T20s now.”

Reflecting on the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023, held in South Africa, was a bittersweet experience for Bosch and her teammates. The team reached the final but fell short by just 16 runs. “Firstly, we we obviously very disappointed. Getting so close and coming so far and playing so well throughout the tournament to get to the final and then losing the final by about 16, 17 runs. That was a tough pill to swallow,” Bosch admitted.

“But looking back, looking back or eventually reflecting on the old tournament and how far we actually did come in the tournament and made us realise that there’s a lot to be proud of and a lot of positive to take out of it. Being the first South African team to make it to the finals was special, and the support we received was incredible.”

“It was a turning point for women’s cricket in South Africa. I think there was a massive improvement or growth in the game ever since that World Cup. So that’s good for us. It’s never nice, obviously, to lose any massive cricket, but when it’s the final and you come so close to lifting a trophy, it hurts even a bit more. But we still have to look at how well we actually did in that tournament.”

The Evolution of South African Women’s Cricket

Bosch has witnessed firsthand the growth of women’s cricket in South Africa, and she believes that the team’s success has sparked a change in mindset.

“The focus and intensity are higher, and everyone knows what’s at stake. It’s actually a trophy to be won. But I don’t think it should affect that. It should not change your preparation or your mentality or your focus too much because it’s all the series is also important, and the World Cup is also important, but just the vibe around it and the intensity around it is a bit different,” she observed.

“But I think ideally you would want to be at a point where it kind of just feels like another game of cricket where we don’t put too much pressure on ourselves and just play the game and play the way that we want to and execute and have fun.”

Early Memories: A Love for Cricket

Bosch’s love for cricket began at a young age, even though women’s cricket wasn’t widely televised when she was growing up. “I don’t think when I was growing up and when I was younger and started watching Cricket, there was a lot of women’s cricket on TV. Probably from primary school when you were like 10 or 12 years old, you would start watching cricket on TV,” she reminisced.

Reflecting on her childhood, she reminisces about the special moments spent with her family. She shares, “You’d like to know every time when there’s going to be games, so you’ll be ready for it and watching with the family. I remember every Sunday we’d go to church and after that, we would go to a family friend and we’ll just sit there and have tea and cookies and then we’ll watch a test match on or something and we’ll be watching that and talking about that, a lot of good memories.” This tradition of combining family time with cricket watching created lasting memories, emphasizing the sport’s role in strengthening familial bonds and fostering a love for the game.

Her journey into cricket took a pivotal turn in her early teenage years. She recalls, “My first memory of that is probably early high school when I was like 15 years old. I remember watching a match between New Zealand and Australia. It was like a World Cup or something and I was like ‘Whoa, like this is so cool!’ I actually saw women’s cricket on TV and that’s actually a thing and it could have still been like Sophie Devine. I can’t remember but that was pretty cool to see. Then I think that’s what motivated me also to take cricket more seriously because there is actually a platform for women to play it.”

Role Models and Balancing Academics with Sport

Like many aspiring cricketers, Bosch had her role models. “Jonty Rhodes, Shaun Pollock, and later AB de Villiers were some of the players I looked up to,” she said.

“In the women’s game, the kind of role model I had was Marizanne Kapp. So when I first started playing with her, it was quite a bit of a shock and it took me a couple of years to process it and now it’s okay. She’s an amazing player obviously and I looked up to her from a young age.” she added with a laugh.

Balancing academics with her passion for cricket wasn’t easy, but Bosch managed it with determination. “It was tough obviously, but I think from my school, like I did a lot of sports, so it’s always involved in a lot of different sports. I played netball, tennis, athletics, and a little bit of cricket. Cricket was actually third or fourth on the priority list when I was in school. Then obviously you have to study when you’re in school as well, so you kind of have to learn how to balance it from a young age,” she revealed.

From Academic Focus to Sports Science and Biokinetics

Her journey from focusing solely on academics to becoming a sports scientist and biokineticist is a testament to her dedication and passion for both her studies and sports. Initially, her academic life took precedence, shaping her career trajectory.

As she advanced in her studies, particularly during her second and third years at university, she began to integrate her love for cricket into her busy schedule.

“I went to university. I think from the second or third year, university cricket started only becoming a more important thing for me and I started spending more time on it. But it was tough and then I started working I would still play netball, tennis, and cricket and then you kind of have to figure out how to make time for everything, but I enjoyed it. I like to stay busy. I like that the one thing, and for me it was cricket and it took my mind off studies and studies take my mind off cricket and vice versa.”

As she embarked on her professional career, balancing work with cricket became increasingly challenging. The demands of her job—starting early in the morning and stretching into the evening—left little time for cricket practice. For the first year of work, she could only participate in domestic fixtures on weekends. The long hours left her with only late evenings for gym workouts or runs, striving to maintain fitness despite the limited time.

“So then I started working. That was more tough than studying, I think, because the work was from 7.30 in the morning till 6.00 at night. For the first year that I worked, there was no time to practice cricket. I only played cricket on the weekends when we had domestic fixtures or leagues. I never actually trained because I had to work so many hours in a day.”

Gradually, adjustments in her work schedule allowed her to incorporate more cricket practice. By her second year of work, she managed to rearrange her hours to attend practice twice a week. The evolving landscape of cricket in her home country, with the introduction of high-performance contracts, provided some financial relief and flexibility, further easing her struggle to balance both worlds.

“Then the second year of work worked a bit less. So Tuesdays and Thursdays, afternoons, or Tuesdays and Thursdays, I worked until one o’clock so that I could go to cricket practice in the afternoons. So I had to practice twice a week then and then played over weekends and stuff.”

Despite the challenges, including times when she questioned whether cricket was a viable career path, her determination to pursue her passion never wavered. With support from her workplace, which granted occasional unpaid leave for cricket commitments, she persevered, and her hard work eventually paid off.

“There were times obviously you think you wonder if it’s worth it and you kind of try and think like maybe this cricket thing, at a stage it didn’t feel like it was going anywhere or it wasn’t really working out or the goals or the plan that I had in mind.” 

“Playing cricket as a career or doing it professionally didn’t initially feel like it was gonna work out. So then you start thinking. ‘Okay, you have to maybe take work more seriously or start working for yourself and earn more money from work and what would because maybe the cricket thing isn’t gonna work out’ and you’re getting all there and your families of it’s kind of wondering What’s happening? What are you gonna do? How long are you still gonna get a chance?”

In retrospect, her dedication to both her career and cricket allowed her to integrate her passions.

“With the sports science. There are a lot of things that overlap and it’s still Biokinetics and sports science is so pretty good or you can combine cricket and that with each other. it’s kind of the same field, but I think if I have to go and work now again, I’ll probably have to sharpen up my knowledge about everything because I haven’t been working out for three or four years. So you forget some stuff and you’re not so cleared up about everything anymore the new research or the new things that come out or the new information or whatever.”

As she looks ahead, she acknowledges the need to update her knowledge in sports science, reflecting on how the field and its practices have evolved.

Favourite Performances: Defining Moments

When reflecting on her favourite performances, Bosch recalls defining moments that shaped her career. Among her standout performances are a crucial 66 against India in 2021 and a recent 65 against Bangladesh in 2023, both of which hold special significance for her.

“In 2020/21, I had been in the squad for a long time, but I never really played a lot. I was on the bench more than I played. Even now, if you look at my career, there are probably more matches where I was on the bench than ones where I actually played. So getting the opportunity to play against India was a big moment for me. I remember feeling nervous, questioning if I was good enough, and hoping to make the most of the chance I had. I wasn’t initially supposed to open the batting, but due to some changes, I ended up opening and scored that 66. It was a special moment because it was my first significant score in T20s.”

Bosch’s adaptability and resilience shone through when she was unexpectedly moved up the batting order during an ODI against India. “In the ODIs, I wasn’t supposed to bat in the position I ended up playing. I was meant to bat lower down the order, but due to an injury or illness, I got moved up. I also managed to score my first 50 in ODIs. The way things unfolded, with the unexpected opportunities, made those innings really special.”

Another memorable moment for Bosch was her performance against Bangladesh. “We were in a tough spot, having lost a few wickets quickly. I came in with the team needing around 130 runs. I was able to build a partnership and finish the game for the team. That was special to be there at the end and help secure the win.”

However, Bosch also reflects on her performance in Australia with a sense of mixed emotions. “The innings in Australia was a bit disappointing because I felt like I could have done more. It’s always tough when you get a chance and you want to make it count. I felt like the opportunity was slipping away, but I’m still proud of the way we fought back after a poor start to the series.”

Managing Challenges and Setbacks

During periods when Bosch was sidelined from playing, she found that these experiences, while challenging, offered substantial growth and learning opportunities. Reflecting on this time, she shared, “I did subconsciously or without really noticing it, grow as a person and learn a lot about myself and the game. When you’re sitting on the bench or watching from the sidelines, you absorb a lot of information. You take on messages from what you observe and come back with new insights.”

“Being away from the action allows you to reflect on different aspects of the game. You look at situations and think about what’s required or what you would do in those scenarios. You also learn what to avoid and what might work better. It’s about understanding the game more deeply—what works in various situations and what doesn’t.”

“That does help you if you let it help you can also stay and kind of just wish the day away or because it’s never nice to sit on a bench. I think there’s still a lot of things to learn when you’re not playing when you just watching the game and supporting the team.”

Modern-Day Discourses and Where Does She Find Herself?

In the fast-paced world of T20 cricket, the evolution of strike rates and batting acceleration is reshaping the game. “It’s special, obviously,” Anneke begins, reflecting on the evolution of T20 cricket. “The way women play the game now, and the way the game has transformed over the last couple of years, is remarkable,” Bosch notes that what was once considered impressive, like a strike rate of 120, is now seen as a baseline.

“In the last couple of years, cricket is way different to what it was. Obviously, the game is moving forward. Ten years ago, a strike rate of 120 was well-regarded, but now it’s not good enough. The game is moving forward, and you have to try and get it even faster and the biggest strike rate and there is a challenge to it.”

The transformation in women’s cricket is not just about numbers; it’s about adapting to a new level of competition and expectations. Bosch elaborates on the challenges this brings. “Sometimes you aim for a 200 strike rate, but you might end up with a 120. It depends on conditions, opponents, and what’s required. There’s no point in forcing a 200 strike rate when a 150 might be more appropriate.” It’s a balancing act between ambition and strategy, and Bosch embraces it with enthusiasm, acknowledging the fun and challenge it brings.

Bosch’s approach to her game has also evolved. “We have actually been having conversations around that in the team lately with the batting coach that we have now, he’s been speaking a lot about that but the process is just outcome and he’s quite process driven. In the past, I was more outcome-driven,” she admits.

“You want to score runs, and contribute to the team’s success, and if that doesn’t happen, you feel like you’ve failed.” However, she has grown to appreciate the process behind the performance. “Recently, I’ve been focusing more on the process rather than just the outcome. It’s about understanding that improvement happens over time. Even when things don’t go well, there are positives to take away and lessons to learn and try to be better the next time.”

With the Women’s Premier League (WPL) making waves in India, Bosch’s aspirations align with the growing opportunities in women’s cricket. “I would love to play for any of the franchises in the WPL,” she says with palpable excitement. “The experience of playing in front of large crowds and learning from such a competitive environment is incredible.”

She acknowledges that her international performance will play a crucial role in making this dream a reality. “It’s great to see women’s cricket growing, with so many leagues now available. Five years ago, we had only a couple of leagues, but now players can be active throughout the year. It’s fantastic for women’s cricket and women’s sport.”

Looking ahead, Bosch is mindful of her long-term goals but prefers to stay grounded. “I like to focus on the process and take things day by day, game by game. There are definitely goals I want to achieve, but I don’t overthink or complicate things. I prefer to keep it simple, prepare well, and trust my instincts.”

The Road Ahead: Continuing the Journey

Her final message resonates with determination and resilience. “No matter how tough things get or how difficult they seem even with the odds against you, if you want something, believe in it, and work towards it, never let anything or anyone stand in your way. You are capable of achieving anything you set your mind to and it’s all in your hands. You are basically capable of doing anything that you want to and you can achieve anything that you want to.”

As Anneke Bosch continues her cricketing journey, she remains grounded, focused, and passionate about the game she loves. Whether it’s opening the batting in a Test match, facing spin in the subcontinent, or reliving the highs and lows of World Cup cricket, Bosch’s story is one of resilience, growth, and an unwavering belief in herself and her team.

For Bosch, cricket is more than just a sport—it’s a journey filled with challenges, triumphs, and endless opportunities to learn and grow. As she looks ahead to the future, there’s no doubt that Anneke Bosch will continue to be a shining star in South African cricket.

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