No concerns over Van Niekerk's fitness, set to resume Proteas women's captaincy role

Proteas women's coach Hilton Moreeng says regular captain Dane van Niekerk is making excellent progress as she is set to make a much-anticipated return next year.

Van Niekerk last played for South Africa last year September after sustaining a left ankle fracture in January, which ruled her out of the entire year for the Proteas women.

It meant that the Proteas were without their regular captain for the Women's Cricket World Cup in New Zealand, their gruelling tour to England and their debut at the Commonwealth Games.

During Van Niekerk's absence, all-rounder Sune Luus took over the captain's armband in what was a tough year for the Proteas women. 

Van Niekerk has slowly returned to action, taking part in August's The Hundred and has now been involved in numerous national camps.

Moreeng says Van Niekerk is looking positive and there is no concern besides her getting game time in the middle.

"Her progress has been very good. She's been part of the last two camps now and she's obviously working hard regarding fitness. She's played a couple of games in this camp," Moreeng told reporters on Tuesday.

"We can see the progress and she's on the right track, so that's why there's not any concerns around her. It's just to make sure that she gets enough game time on legs because we can make sure we can prepare and also going into our domestic season where she'll get an opportunity to play.

"But thus far, it's been thumbs up for her and she's been working extremely hard behind the scenes to make sure she gets to full fitness."

READ | Van Niekerk excited for Proteas return ahead of T20 Women's World Cup: 'Special is the word'

The Women's CSA Women's Provincial One Day Cup runs from 24 September to 1 April 2023, while the CSA Women's Provincial