Nandre Burger

{{short description|South African international cricketer (born 1995)}} {{Fanpov|date=April 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}} {{Use South African English|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Nandre Burger | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|8|11|df=yes}} | birth_place = Krugersdorp, Gauteng, South Africa | heightm = 1.88

| batting = Left-handed | bowling = Left-arm fast-medium | role = Bowler

| international = true | internationalspan = 2023–present | country = South Africa

| club1 = Gauteng | year1 = {{nowrap|2015/16–2018/19}} | club2 = Lions | year2 = {{nowrap|2017/18–2018/19}} | club3 = Cape Town Blitz | year3 = 2018 | club4 = South Western Districts | year4 = 2019/20 | club5 = Cape Cobras | year5 = {{nowrap|2019/20–2020/21}} | club6 = Western Province | year6 = {{nowrap|2019/20–present}} | club7 = Nelson Mandela Bay Giants | year7 = 2019 | club8 = Joburg Super Kings | year8 = 2023 | club9 = Jaffna Kings | year9 = 2023 | club10 = Seattle Orcas | year10 = 2024–present | club11 = Rajasthan Royals | year11 = 2024,2026 | club12 = Fortune Barishal | year12 = 2025

| date = 3 December | year = 2025 | source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/nandre-burger-971349 ESPNcricinfo }} '''Nandre Burger''' (born 11 August 1995) is a South African cricketer who plays for the South African cricket team and Western Province in South African domestic cricket.<ref name="Bio">{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/971349.html |title=Nandre Burger |accessdate=25 February 2017 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}</ref><ref name="CA">{{Cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1991/1991658/1991658.html |title=Nandre Burger |accessdate=25 February 2017 |work=Cricket Archive}}</ref> He has described himself as an accidental cricketer as he endured a serendipitous path to cricketing journey.

== Early life == Burger played tennis and squash during his teenage years before switching to cricket. He was already ranked among the top tennis players in the age-group regional tennis championships at the age of fifteen. He also competed in squash national championships at the age of 17. However, his squash stint was cut short due to a prolonged persistent back injury layoff and as a result he switched his focus to cricket.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Nandre Burger: 'I didn't want to be a cricketer, it was a free way to study' |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ipl-2024-nandre-burger-i-didn-t-want-to-be-a-cricketer-it-was-a-free-way-to-study-1426645 |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref> He even developed ambitions to be playing at ATP Tour when he began seriously compromising himself about taking tennis as his career pathway.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2024-01-01 |title=Swapping Roger Federer for Dale Steyn, how Nandre Burger became South Africa cricket's 'next big thing' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/how-nandre-burger-became-south-africas-next-big-thing-9090835/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

He received a full scholarship to pursue psychology major at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2014. It was at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he decided to try his luck in cricket and he earned a trial after gaining admission at the university.<ref name=":1" /> He was coached by Neil Levenson at his university, under whom he received guidance and learned the skillsets.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-29 |title=Nandre Burger unleashed one at 150kph, another at 138.5kph to Ricky Bhui. Which one got the batsman? |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/ipl/riyan-parag-84-rr-vs-dc-nandre-burger-avesh-khan-warner-9239036/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> Neil Levenson especially worked closely with Burger to rectify technical aspects regarding alignment from the landing foot to the release point. Burger has told that cricket has always been his backup option after academics.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Korde |first=Mihir |date=2024-03-28 |title='Cricket was my backup to academics' - Nandre Burger reveals how he started his cricketing journey |url=https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/cricket-was-my-backup-to-academics-nandre-burger-reveals-how-he-started-his-cricketing-journey-0976/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=CricTracker |language=en}}</ref> He then received an opportunity to become a net bowler for Highveld Lions in South African domestic competition.

He received his first franchise contract from Cape Cobras during the 2016–2017 season, and it was a tough pill to swallow, especially when he was faced with the dilemma of whether to complete his psychology degree or fulfill his cricket ambitions. He made the difficult decision to drop out of his degree as he decided to discontinue his higher studies and left Johannesburg immediately to move to Cape Town as his Cape Cobras contract meant he should be readily available in Cape Town.<ref name=":0" />

== Domestic career == He made his first-class debut for Gauteng in the 2015–16 Sunfoil 3-Day Cup on 11 February 2016.<ref name="FC">{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/874873.html |title=Sunfoil 3-Day Cup, Cross Pool: South Western Districts v Gauteng at Oudtshoorn, Feb 11-13, 2016 |accessdate=25 February 2017 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}</ref> He made his T20 debut for Gauteng in the 2016-17 CSA Provincial T20 Challenge on 14 February 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SWD vs GTG Cricket Scorecard, at Oudtshoorn, February 14, 2016 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/csa-provincial-t20-challenge-2015-16-874765/south-western-districts-vs-gauteng-874957/full-scorecard |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref> He made his List A debut for Gauteng in the 2016–17 CSA Provincial One-Day Challenge on 26 February 2017.<ref name="LA">{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1025027.html |title=CSA Provincial One-Day Challenge, Cross Pool: North West v Gauteng at Potchefstroom, Feb 26, 2017 |accessdate=26 February 2017 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}</ref>

He was the leading wicket-taker in the 2017–18 CSA Provincial One-Day Challenge tournament for Gauteng, with 19 dismissals in seven matches.<ref name="1718wkts">{{cite web |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/batting_bowling_by_team.html?id=12120;team=3282;type=tournament |title=CSA Provincial One-Day Challenge, 2017/18 Gauteng: Batting and bowling averages |accessdate=8 April 2018 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}</ref> In July 2018, he was named in the Cricket South Africa Emerging Squad.<ref name="EmSq">{{cite web |url=http://cricket.co.za/news/25235/De-Zorzi-to-lead-SA-Emerging-Squad-in-Sri-Lanka |title=De Zorzi to lead SA Emerging Squad in Sri Lanka |work=Cricket South Africa |accessdate=19 July 2018 |archive-date=19 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719233426/http://cricket.co.za/news/25235/De-Zorzi-to-lead-SA-Emerging-Squad-in-Sri-Lanka |url-status=dead }}</ref> In September 2018, he was named in Gauteng's squad for the 2018 Africa T20 Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/squad/1158603.html |title=Gauteng Squad |work=ESPN Cricinfo |accessdate=12 September 2018}}</ref> He was the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, with eleven dismissals in six matches.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=12603;type=tournament |title=Africa T20 Cup, 2018/19: Most wickets |work=ESPN Cricinfo |accessdate=24 September 2018}}</ref> He joined Cape Town Blitz team as an injury replacement to Anrich Nortje for the latter stages of the 2018 Mzansi Super League.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-05-07 |title=Nandre Burger signs Cobras contract |url=https://www.sacricketmag.com/burger-signs-cobras-contract/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=SA Cricketmag |language=en-US}}</ref>

In September 2019, he was named in the squad for the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants team for the 2019 Mzansi Super League tournament.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cricket.co.za/news/31555/MSL-20-announces-its-T20-squads |title=MSL 2.0 announces its T20 squads |work=Cricket South Africa |accessdate=4 September 2019 |archive-date=4 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904081427/https://cricket.co.za/news/31555/MSL-20-announces-its-T20-squads |url-status=dead }}</ref> In April 2021, he was named in Western Province's squad, ahead of the 2021–22 cricket season in South Africa.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cricket.co.za/news/38184/CSA-reveals-Division-One-squads-for-2021-22 |title=CSA reveals Division One squads for 2021/22 |work=Cricket South Africa |access-date=20 April 2021 |archive-date=20 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420104034/http://cricket.co.za/news/38184/CSA-reveals-Division-One-squads-for-2021-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He sustained a lumbar stress fracture which kept him out of cricket related activities for over a year until October 2022.

On 19 December 2023, he was bought by Rajasthan Royals for 50 lakh rupees to play in IPL 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/kya-kar-raha-hai-yaar-burger-rajasthan-royals-six-word-tweet-after-nandre-burger-dismiss-yashasvi-jaiswal-in-1st-india-south-africa-test-goes-viral-article-106304936|title=Rajasthan Royals Six-Word Tweet After Nandre Burger Dismiss Yashasvi Jaiswal In 1st IND-SA Test Goes Viral|date=27 December 2023|website=TimesNow}}</ref>

== International career == In January 2021, he was named in South Africa's Twenty20 International (T20I) squad for their series against Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cricket.co.za/news/37312/Klaasen-to-captain-Proteas-T20-squad-to-Pakistan |title=Klaasen to captain Proteas T20 squad to Pakistan |work=Cricket South Africa |access-date=19 January 2021 |archive-date=19 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119154327/https://cricket.co.za/news/37312/Klaasen-to-captain-Proteas-T20-squad-to-Pakistan |url-status=dead }}</ref> Following his selection for South Africa's T20I squad against Pakistan in January 2021, Nandre Burger made his international debut in all three formats—T20I, ODI, and Test—within 13 days against India in December 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bvmsports.com/2023/12/28/king-kohli-makes-history-with-7th-2000-run-year-surpasses-sangakkaras-record/|title=King Kohli Makes History with 7th 2,000-Run Year, Surpasses Sangakkara's Record|work=BVM Sports|access-date=28 December 2023}}</ref> He made his debut with figures of 3/50 and 4/33.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/128986/the-merits-and-menace-of-burger-that-singed-india|title=The merits and menace of Burger that singed India|website=Cricbuzz|access-date=29 December 2023}}</ref>

In March 2024, he earned his first national contract from Cricket South Africa ahead of the 2024–25 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Burger and de Zorzi get CSA contracts; Nortje and de Kock omitted from list |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/nandre-burger-and-tony-de-zorzi-get-csa-contracts-quinton-de-kock-omitted-from-list-1426422 |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=icc |date=2024-03-26 |title=Fast bowling sensations included, wicket-keeper omitted in latest South Africa player contracts |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/fast-bowling-sensations-included-wicketkeeper-omitted-in-latest-south-africa-player-contracts?appview=true |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=www.icc-cricket.com |language=en}}</ref> In May 2024, he was named as a reserve player in South Africa’s squad for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament.<ref>{{Cite web |title=South Africa Squad for ICC Men's T20I World Cup |url=https://www.scorewaves.com/news-details/south-africa-squad-for-t20-world-cup |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=ScoreWaves |language=en}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{ESPNcricinfo|id=971349}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burger, Nandre}} Category:1995 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Krugersdorp Category:Cricketers from Gauteng Category:South African cricketers Category:South Africa Test cricketers Category:South Africa One Day International cricketers Category:South Africa Twenty20 International cricketers Category:21st-century South African sportsmen Category:Cape Cobras cricketers Category:Cape Town Blitz cricketers Category:Gauteng cricketers Category:Joburg Super Kings cricketers Category:Lions cricketers Category:Nelson Mandela Bay Giants cricketers Category:South Western Districts cricketers Category:Western Province cricketers Category:Rajasthan Royals cricketers