All-rounder Chloe Tryon wants to continue giving back to cricket

The Proteas Women cricketer reflects on the World Cup, her role in the team and her future in the sport.

- By Yanga Sibembe

If you are a soccer lover, you know that one of the most important positions in a team is that of a box-to-box midfielder.

They are utility players - the underappreciated garbage cleaners. They cover almost every blade of grass as they try to contribute to both the team's attack and defence.

That is the best analogy for Chloe Tryon's role in the Proteas Women. She's a great all-rounder, but the plaudits are usually reserved for top-order batters and the bowlers in the sport.

Marizanne Kapp is usually the Proteas all-rounder on whom the opposition focuses. With good reason too she's one of the greatest cricketers to ever play the game. However, Tryon is also a lethal weapon to have in a team.

The game of cricket has always favoured the fast-bowling all-rounders. With ball in hand, Tryon is a spinner. She chips in with the odd important wicket, but is also crucial for slowing down the scoring momentum of rivals. With the bat in her hand, she is as belligerent as anyone.

Mastered her role

Over the years, Tryon has worked on mastering this niche role of hers, even though she's rarely in a position to score a century with the bat or grab a five-fer with the ball.

"I have always said I want to make sure ... I do the best that I can for the team," Tryon told Daily Maverick. "I know sometimes with the bat I might be in different situations. I might be coming in a little bit earlier, which means I might have to be a little bit slow and build a partnership in the middle.

"Or I might have to come in at the back end and hit sixes and fours all the fireworks. So, I understand the role a lot more now... It's about making sure that I'm there until the end, taking the team over the line," she added.