When Michelle Botha became a mother she was certain her long-held ambition of travelling the world as an international cricketer was finally over.
So sure was she, she retired from playing even recreationally, and took her kit home to South Africa, never to be used again.
Then she got a call from Ahmed Raza, the coach of the UAE national team, asking her to reconsider.
Now she is in Thailand, preparing to help the UAE’s bid for a place at the next T20 World Cup, to be played in England next year – with a well-stocked bag of brand-new kit.
Botha, a left-arm spin bowling allrounder, is one of a number of new recruits in a UAE side who will play in the Asian regional qualifier in Bangkok this month.
The top two sides in that will advance to the global qualifier, which is the gateway to the main event, at the start of next year.
The journey to the World Cup remains long and challenging, but Botha’s has been a long one even to reach this point.
She made the decision to leave South Africa in the midst of Covid in August 2021, and her and husband Gawie both landed jobs at the American School in Al Ain.
“I played and coached a few girls there who were interested,” Botha, 30, said. “We had about 12 girls, but they weren’t quite ready for competition.
“We stayed there, and I drove to Dubai a few times to train. I stopped playing when I fell pregnant, and decided I wasn’t going to play anymore. I wanted to retire.
“I was working full time, 7am-4pm, with a child to look after. Then to drive an hour and a half to Dubai, it’s tough, I’m not going to lie. It is time consuming.
“I was content with not playing. Then, coach Ahmed approached me.”
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Michelle Botha in training with the UAE women's team. All pictures by Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Katie Thompson and Michelle Botha, left, of the UAE women's team. -
Michelle Botha in training with the UAE women's team. -
Michelle Botha in training with the UAE women's team. -
Michelle Botha has added experience to a youthful UAE side with dreams of making it to the T20 World Cup. -
Michelle Botha in training with the UAE women's team. -
Michelle Botha in training with the UAE women's team.
Raza was looking for experienced players to supplement a talented but extremely youthful national team.
Botha fitted the bill, but had not played a competitive match since leaving South Africa, and – just as pertinently – had no kit.
“I didn’t qualify when I was in Al Ain, which is part of the reason I decided I wasn’t going to play,” she said.
“I took all my things home to South Africa, then coach Ahmed approached me.
“For me, it is amazing how things just fell into place. My husband is a Grade 4 teacher at the same school. He is also an umpire, which is how we met.
“Through being involved in some big tournaments like [Abu Dhabi] T10, he met the guys from Leather and Willow [cricket equipment company].
“From then, they fully sponsored me, which meant I did not have to bring my kit back. I got everything I needed from them, including customised kit.”
Husband Gawie is pursuing a cricket career of his own, as an umpire in Abu Dhabi. It means the couple have to plan how to juggle work life, cricket, and childcare for 18-month-old son Dawid.
“From the beginning, we said to each other we would support each other, no matter what,” she said.
“He is pursuing his cricket, and I’m pursuing mine. We had a very long conversation around what would happen should he go away with cricket, or should I go away with cricket.
“We just decided either way, one of us would look after Dawid. We spoke about how we could support each other. With me going on tour, that is obviously for a lot longer.
“It was always the plan to get ready for Thailand. We knew it would be a long time. He said of course I can go, but obviously that motherly instinct tugs at you.
“It is hard to be away from him for long periods of time.”
Botha first learnt cricket growing up next to a sports field, watching her dad play the sport. As the only girl between two brothers, as well as two male cousins, she took to all sports, and, she says, cricket was the one which stuck.
She was spotted by the father of Sune Luus – the South Africa international – when playing against a boys’ school team, and was invited into the girls’ pathway programme.
She made it to South Africa’s emerging team level, before Covid, and the move to Al Ain, put what she thought would be an end to her international ambitions.
Now she has a second chance, and she is thrilled to be part of the UAE set up.
“I am excited,” she said. “Somebody came to me when I was very young and looked me in the eye and said, ‘One day you are going to play international cricket.’
“I was very young, still trying to make it into the SA side. I made it as far as the emerging side, then moved towns, and that was it.
“My husband said to me [recently], ‘Do you remember when someone came up to you and said that one day you will be playing international cricket?’
“I did, and it brought back so many memories of coming to where I am today. I was at the point of giving up playing, and now I am on the brink of playing for the country.”
Botha was talking ahead of the tour to Thailand. Since being there she has excelled in warm up matches ahead of the qualifier, and was player of the match on debut against China.
“It makes me proud to think I am one of the top players in the country,” she said.
“The thought that there is the opportunity to one day play in a World Cup, which is not something I’d necessarily have had in South Africa, is … wow. It gives me goosebumps.
“I haven’t got as far as thinking what would happen if I ever got to play against South Africa. I don’t want to overthink things.
“For an associate nation to make it to a World Cup would be a massive achievement. I didn’t realise until I got here and played here the challenges that the players face.
“The challenges are completely different to those a top tier nation faces. That alone should be motivation enough.
“The UAE has been knocking on the door of making it into the World Cup for a very long time. I do believe, with the players we have now, we could definitely make it to a World Cup.”
