Fritz back where she belongs

Shandre Fritz has defied her doctor to make a successful return to the cricket field

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While all the players taking part in the women's World Cup next year will be hopeful of success, one player will just be grateful she is playing at all.

Shandre Fritz, a talented and aggressive all-round cricketer who was born in Cape Town, had just been appointed South Africa captain last year when she was involved in a terrible accident.

Trying to escape the hot South Africa summer sun, Fritz came perilously close to ending her cricket career.

"I dived into a swimming pool, hit my head and two vertebrae stepped out of line and there was a fracture,” said the 22-year-old. “My doctor said to me it is absolutely amazing that I'm not paralysed from the neck down.”

Only a year later, having made a full recovery, she was back in the South Africa team at the World Cup Qualifier at Stellenbosch in February 2008, where, coincidentally, she is studying a teaching degree at the local university, and played an important role in ensuring qualification for the 2009 event.

The experience is one that Fritz has used to motivate her in her preparation for next year's showpiece tournament in Australia.

"It's a big cliché that after a big accident that you realise the talent and ability you have,” she added. “At the moment I'm in the best shape of my life – I’m fitter and stronger than I've ever been.

"It's been a real eye-opener. I believe that things happen for a reason and this is a good reason for me to bring my game up to the next level."

Fritz, who was part of the South Africa side who performed so badly on home soil in the last World Cup in 2005, has been pleasantly surprised by the form they have displayed in recent months.

"It's been really refreshing as previously we've struggled quite badly to be honest,” she said.

“At the World Cup in 2005 we didn't do so well and got ourselves into a bit of a muddle and we did really well in Stellenbosch to prove that we didn't belong in the qualifying tournament.

"I was out for about a year, but all the girls have stepped up their game and I'm excited for the future and with the World Cup coming up, a tour to England, I really can't wait."

Although their upcoming tour to England will be a real test of how competitive South Africa will be at the ICC Women's World Cup, Fritz does not have any fears.

"I've played a lot of the sides before. They are a cut above us in terms of getting sponsorship and being contracted, so they have the upper hand at the moment, but we're getting there and making big strides very quickly," said Fritz.