Women Deserve Every Opportunity – SA U19 Cricket Star Jemma Botha
Any sportswomen dreams of being at the pinnacle of their sport but to do it as a teenager is one major feat. Jemma Botha is a player who has already achieved this milestone, following her instrumental part of the South African U19 Women’s Cricket team who made it all the way to the final of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia, this January.
Botha spoke fondly of her time at the event, saying she found the team’s and management’s camaraderie special.
“My experience at the World Cup was great, it’s always great to be at a World Cup, and spending it with the management and the players was nice, they are a great bunch of people.”
South African U19 Women’s Opening Bat, Jemma Botha
“I had a lot of fun with them on and off the field,” says Botha. “On the field, it was very competitive, we always backed each other and we always fought [for a win]. Off the field, we got on quite well and [had a] great time together.”
The Western Province Women’s cricketer was South Africa’s top batter in the tournament, amassing 105 runs. Her highest score came in their match against Australia where she made 37, and her contribution turned out to be a match-winning innings allowing the team to progress to the final against India.
According to her it was her “best batting performance”, and the 17-year-old is now hoping to build on her performances, as she returns to her provincial side. On returning to her day-to-day routine, Wynberg Girls pupil says that she is taking it in her stride.
“I hope to score some runs in the second half of the provincial season, I just want to score lots of runs, and take lots of wickets, and contribute to the success of my team.”
“Getting back into my regular routine hasn’t been easy. You go from training every day and seeing certain people every day, to seeing them almost never. Also, training when you can, because you need to catch up with school … School has been a bit overwhelming, but I have a lot of people who are helping me and supporting me through it.”
Botha has had a steady rise to the top and with her current performances and there is no doubt she will one day be a mainstay in the Proteas Women’s senior team in the future.
The all-rounder has the sport running through her veins as her father is a cricket coach and was the chief architect in what has now become a successful cricket career.
“When I was a baby and started to walk, before I could even talk, my dad put a baseball bat in my hand and would throw the ball at me in the house,” Botha recalls.
“He would be half asleep on the bed, and I would be standing at the door and hitting balls at him. At the age of four, he put me in a cricket club, and I played some mini-cricket for St Augustine’s Cricket Club, and from there made provincial teams, and the rest is history.”
It also won’t come as a surprise that Botha has named her parents as her role models. “My mom and dad have done a lot for me, even though sometimes they don’t have the resources to provide for me, they always make a plan and that is something that I am always grateful for.”
The teenager believes that girl’s and women’s cricket has come a long way since she started playing, and this is something she makes her enthusiastic about the future of the sport.
“It’s great to see women’s cricket growing I didn’t even play cricket with the girls, I played with the boys. My dad is a coach and he coaches girls’ teams now which is great to see. I think there will also be a lot of opportunities that will arise now in the professional format for women and I think we deserve every opportunity that comes our way.”
“There has been a lot of work done in the women’s space for cricket and it’s nice to see that they care. I am grateful for all the work that Cricket South Africa is doing in the background (for women’s cricket),” she added.
Botha urges young girls interested in pursuing cricket not to be put off by any of the outside noise as it’s a sport that can be an enjoyable one.
“Just do it! I know that cricket is still predominately a boy’s sport, when you think cricket you think guys, but you never know where the game can take you.”
“I never thought I would be playing professional cricket, or even playing for my country. You will eventually fall in love with the game,” Botha says. “I know a lot of people say cricket is boring, because you stand in the sun for hours and hours, but you will find a passion for it, the longer you play it. There are a lot of opportunities in cricket!”
Main Photo Caption: Jemma Botha is a cricketer who accomplished in achieving milestones, having played key roles for her domestic team, Western Province Women’s Cricket, and the South African U19 Women’s Cricket team, who made it all the way to the final of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025 in Malaysia, this January Photo: Supplied
Photo 2 Caption: Jemma Botha was back in action for Western Province Women’s Cricket this past weekend. Photo: Supplied
Photo 3 Caption: Of her match-winning 37 against Australia to qualify for the T20 World Cup final, Botha simply says: “Best batting performance!” Photo: Supplied
Photo 4 Caption: Jemma Botha is hoping to build on her strong performances at the 19 Women’s T20 World Cup as she makes a return to provincial cricket. Photo: Supplied
Photo 5 Caption: Botha: “On the field, it was very competitive, and we always fought for a win. Off the field, we got on quite well and had a great time together.” Photo: Supplied
Crédito: Link de origem