Claire Terblanche

Like most of the current generation of women cricketers in South Africa, Claire Terblanche came to the game at a young age. She was playing alongside the boys from the age of nine and was called into the Eastern Province Under-19 side at 14. Although she is yet to firmly establish her place in the starting XI for the full side, she did play in the Test victory against Netherlands in July 2007, and has been part of the set-up since 2002, coming second in her countries batting averages at the 2005 World Cup in South Africa.

Her debut in 2003 was memorable for all the wrong reasons as she was unable to bat after picking up an injury in the field as her side lost to England by 175 runs. She has since worked hard on her offbreaks and can now be considered a genuine allrounder. She comes from a cricket-mad family and singles out AB de Villiers as her hero.

Alan Curr September 2007