Cri-Zelda Brits

Cri-Zelda Brits (pronunciation: /kriː.ˈzɛldə/ /brɪts/), also written Crizelda Brits and Cri-zelda Brits (born 20 November 1983) is an international cricketer. A right-handed batsman and right-arm medium-fast bowler, Brits was originally called up to the South Africa national women's cricket team as an opening bowler in 2002. She developed into an all-rounder, and since 2005 has established herself as a specialist batsman. She captained South Africa in 23 matches in 2007 and 2008, but was replaced as captain in 2009 in order to "concentrate entirely on her own performance." She was reappointed as captain for the 2010 ICC Women's World Twenty20. Between 2007 and 2011 she captain South Africa a total of 36 times (1 Test, 23 One Day Internationals and 12 Twenty20 Internationals).

She is one of South Africa women's most prolific batsmen; being the first South African woman to have scored a half-century in a Twenty20 International, and one of only six women to have scored a century for South Africa in a One Day International (ODI). She is the leading South African run-scorer in ODI with 1622 runs.

Born in Rustenburg, Transvaal, Brits began her cricket career aged 11 when she entered the sport playing in boys' teams. At the age of 14, Brits made two appearances for South Africa Under-21s women against the touring England side in 1998, playing as wicket-keeper during two 50-over contests. In the first, an eight run victory for South Africa, she claimed a stumping and a catch but was not required to bat. For the second match, she was promoted up the order from number eight to number five and made 14 runs off 13 balls as South Africa lost by 42 runs.