Bezuidenhout announces retirement from international cricket

South African and White Ferns representative Bernadine Bezuidenhout has announced that she has retired from international cricket.

Bezuidenhout is one of only nine female cricketers to play for two nations, representing South Africa between 2014-2015 and then New Zealand from 2018 to 2024.  

Her highest ODI score for New Zealand came against Pakistan late last year with a run-a-ball 86 to put on 165 runs for the opening stand with Suzie Bates. 

The 44 runs from 26 balls that Bezuidenhout made against Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup is her highest score in the shortest format of the international game.

She made just under 600 runs in both formats across her international career with 520 runs going off the bat in internationals for Aotearoa. 

Beuzidenhout said “playing for the White Ferns has been a huge privilege and honour and it’s left me with the fondest memories. The journey has taught me so much and I’ll be forever grateful to everyone who has been on the path with me.”

In 2018, she was diagnosed with RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport) and was out of cricket for two years, her comeback to the game came with 62* and 101 for Northern Districts. This led to eventual selection in the T20 World Cup in 2023, where she scored 90 runs in four games.

White Ferns coach Ben Sawyer thanked Bezuidenhout for the contributions that she has made on the field and the caring qualities that she brought to the group off the field.

Sawyer also said that the team is proud of the work that she does outside of cricket through her charitable trust and he highlighted the positive impact that she will continue to have on many people’s lives.

According to the trust's website, The EPIC Sports Project is about inspiring hope for young people in high-deprivation communities through sport and hip-hop. 

It was at the forefront of her decision to retire with the work and playing career balance being a struggle and the charitable trust she wants to focus on.

Northern Districts will still have Bezuidenhout’s availability this summer, and she intends to continue playing domestic cricket.