From batsman to spear ace
Commonwealth javelin champion Sunette Viljoen is part of an exclusive club of sports stars who have represented her country at two sports. Spikesmag.com caught with the spear ace to talk about her time as a South African international cricketer.
When did you start playing cricket?
SV: It started back at school. I played with my brother and then when I was aged about 11 at primary school I played in the same team as the boys. I was much better than all the boys playing in the A team. I batted No.3. When I went to high school the principal said I must play for the B team. I said to him “I’m not B team quality I want to play for the first team.” I was first called up into the South African women’s cricket squad at 14 and made my debut for South Africa in a one-day international against England when I was 17. I played 17 one-day internationals in total and one Test match against India.
What was your highest score?
SV: I scored 71 against India in the Test match and I had a best one-day score of 54 not out. The best score at provincial level was 179. I think I hit about 26 fours and two or three sixes into a backyard!
Why did you decide to concentrate on the javelin?
SV: I played cricket at school and when I got to university I started to specialise in the javelin. At my first year at university I had to make a choice between athletics or cricket because I got a bursary from my university at Potchefstroom.
Was it a hard choice to make?
SV: People ask me ‘don’t you always miss your cricket’ and because cricket is a team sport I sometimes miss that. However, athletics is an individual sport and I know that you are reliant on yourself and I like that.
When was the last time you played cricket?
SV: In 2005. Some people still ask me to play indoor cricket or just in the nets, but for now I’m just focusing on my athletics. I do play backyard cricket with my brother whenever I get the chance. I am very competitive and have that competitive instinct. Sometimes I need to relax.
Does you brother ever bowl you out?
SV: Yes, but I always say to him I was not ready (laughs).
Will you one day return to cricket?
SV: Yes. One day I will back to cricket for the fun of it. The cricket structure has changed so much since when I was playing. A lot of political things have happened, which is not nice.
Who are your cricketing heroes?
SV: I watch a lot of cricket and I really love the Twenty20 version of the game. There are so much many people I like to watch like Herschelle Gibbs (South African cricketer) and the hard-hitting batsmen. I also like to watch the boys from the other countries like Shane Watson of Australia.
In what way has your cricket helped your athletics?
SV: I think throwing cricket balls has helped my javelin and also the lightness and quickness on my feet, which I learned from cricket, has helped. My strength in the javelin is that I’m quick on my feet. I used to practise throwing the cricket ball against my brother. We used to throw between the rugby posts and move further and further back to see if we could achieve the distance.