Anlo van Deventer leaves Central Hinds to take up job with Brisbane Heat and Queensland Fire

Anlo van Deventer, who captained Central Hinds in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield (HBJ Shield), won't be available for the 2021-22 season as she is making a move to Australia to join Brisbane Heat and Queensland Fire as a team physiotherapist.

“I would never say never to a return someday, but for the time being, it is a very nervous and partial goodbye,” said van Deventer who has represented Central Hinds in 131 matches across formats, including 56 T20s. She holds the record for highest individual score for Hinds with her unbeaten 169 against Otago Sparks.

Van Deventer, who captained the Hinds side when they won the one-day competition in 2019, said the decision to move to Australia was a tough one to make. “I had a Zoom call with our Hinds group to let them know what was happening and that was a very emotional conversation for me. The girls have been a massive part of my life for the last 10 years, and some, even longer than that. I count myself extremely lucky to have formed such friendships with some of the best people I know,” she said.

The 27-year-old was also thankful to her teammates who supported her on and off the field during her playing days. “What makes this group so special is not only the athletes they are on the field but the people they've become off it,” van Deventer said. ”I've had the pleasure of watching each of them grow into the people they are today, and that has been one of the key factors in keeping me on the park over the years.”

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Van Deventer, the fifth most capped player to represent Hinds also thanked coaching and supporting staff. “I feel so proud to have been able to represent the green and gold for so many years. Our Central Districts Cricket Association is one that is truly about its community, she added.

“It’s like a second family to me, and I would like to say a big thank you to CD, to all of the satellite coaches across the regions, to Jamie Watkins and all the support staff who have contributed to my time with this Association.”

Central Hinds coach Jamie Watkins lauded van Deventer for her contribution to the side over the years especially as a leader of the young side.

“When I took over as coach of the Hinds, the group was in a very transitional period with a number of experienced players having finished playing and six debutantes featuring in that first season," Watkins said. “Anlo took over the captaincy of a very young group and has been instrumental in pushing the Hinds’ brand both on the field and off it, continually driving for better resources for the players as well as leading them with determination and passion on the park.”

For Watkins, the highlight of van Deventer’s career was winning the HBJ Shield for Hinds after a gap of eight years in the 2018-19 season. “The highlight undoubtedly for Anlo was captaining the side to Hallyburton Johnstone Shield glory at Pukekura Park in 2019. You could see what it meant to her being able to lift the Shield after many years of hard graft with the Hinds,” said the coach.

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Watkins added that Hinds will be looking to learn from her involvement in the professional environments in Australia as he wished van Deventer success on her new endeavour.

“We are all very proud of Anlo’s success in her appointment to the Brisbane Heat and Queensland Fire. It’s a great opportunity for her in her career, and from afar we will certainly look to tap into her learnings from her involvement in this professional environment in any way that can help the Hinds progress," Watkins concluded.